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:
August 1, 1905 - reprinted December 10 [?], 1980Clarkson markets: Good milling wheat .62 to .69. Good rye .58. Corn .39 ˝ . Oats .20. Eggs .11; Butter .13. Hogs $5.40.
Mrs. Josie Riba and Mr. and Mrs. Leo Prokop arrived here direct from Bohemia, and will make their home among us.
Adolph Fiala carries the belt as the boss fisherman in these parts, having won the same by catching a 1 ˝ pound bullhead in Maple Creek.
J.H. Hunt purchased of Anton Prazak, a 320 acre farm, two miles north of Leigh for $62.00 per acre. Mr. Prazak bought the place about 3 years ago, moving there from near Howells. He now sells at an advance of a little more than $6,000. Mr. Prazak intends moving to Clarkson.
August 8, 1905 - reprinted January 21, 1981Miss Anna Stodola arrived direct from Bohemia to make her home with her brother here.
Jos. Stodola bought an 8 acre tract of land from Jos. Podany, a few miles north of town paying $55 per acre.
Jos. Krikac made the sale of the Frank A. Dvorak 120 acres 3 ˝ miles southwest of town to Anton Prazak for the consideration of $65 per acre.
The excavating of the new Farmers State Bank has commenced. The building will cost less than $3,000 and R.P. Basta is the contractor. J.D. Wolf and Dr. Petr went to Omaha to buy a time lock safe, counters and fixtures for the bank.
August 15, 1905 - reprinted February 4, 1981Frank Hegr, a prominent farmer, was killed in a runaway accident. While coming to town from his home on the old Cloughesy farm, 3 ˝ miles southwest of town, with a load of hogs, Frank with an accident that resulted in his death. When he got a little more than a half mile north of his place his team started to run, and were soon beyond his control. He was standing on the cleat at the side of the wagon and was in poor shape to stop the runaways, who went tearing down the Faltys hill and across the bridge at the foot of the hill. Just after the bridge is crossed there is a turn in the road and here Mr. Hegr, the wagon box and load of hogs were thrown off the running gear of the wagon. One wheel of the wagon passed over Mr. Hegr’s head and the box struck him across the stomach pinning him to the ground. The accident occurred about 4 o’clock and Mr. Hegr passed away about quarter to seven. He is survived by a wife and seven children, the oldest being about 15 and the youngest a little over a year.
Jos. Krikac reports the sale of the August Koudele 200 acre farm in Midland Precinct to Anton Prazak for $60 per acre. Mr. Koudele had owned the place less than 2 years and his investment has netted him about $2,400. It does pay to invest in Nebraska land.
August 22, 1905 - reprinted February 25, 1981The people of this neighborhood were shocked to learn of the death of Mrs. John Noh, who had been receiving treatment in Host Springs, S.D.
At the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Chleboun, Jr. at Schuyler, occurred the marriage of Frank Miller and Miss Mary Chleboun. County Judge Well officiated. Only a few relatives and intimate friends of the contracting couple were present.
Dr. F.J. Petr and Miss Laura Jordon were married at the home of the bride’s parents in Omaha.
Frank Wolf, Sr. was thrown from a load of hay on his farm one mile east of town and had his left shoulder broken.
August 29, 1905 - reprinted February 25, 1981Jos. Krikac sold a section of the Marshall Field ranch land, a quarter each to Jos. and Frank Pacl and Jos. Sulz of Prague, Saunders County and Jos. Fillipi, a son of Frank Fillip of this place. The price was $42.50 per acre.
The best strip of sidewalk in Clarkson is now being laid by Fred W. Noh in front of his hotel and residence. It is a cement walk 8 feet wide and 112 feet long.
Ed Arnold lost 8 head of hogs in a very peculiar way and considers himself lucky for not having lost more. Through his yards where he feeds more than 500 head of hogs, runs a steep banked creek at the lower end of the yard; where the stream runs under the fence stakes have been driven to prevent any of the animals from getting under the wire. Into this creek over 200 large fat hogs crowded to get into the cool water piling up in a solid mass between the two banks and fence and stakes. They were in this condition when they were discovered by a little son of Mr. Arnold, who lost no time in informing his father that the creek was full of pigs. When Ed arrived he was staggered to see more than 3 carloads of porkers piled up from 4 to 8 feet deep and took some hard work on his part and that of his hired man to get the bunch out of the hole.