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:
December 5, 1905 - reprinted June 17, 1981Fred Hefti, who underwent surgery for appendicitis a few weeks ago, is getting along nicely and is able to be up and around.
We are told there is considerable hog cholera in the country north of town. Ed Arnold is the heaviest loser having lost 100 head out of a herd of several hundred.
Mrs. Charles Novotny was called to Cedar Rapids, Iowa by the serious illness of her mother, Mrs. Frank Lawrence. She died the following afternoon and this morning Chas. Novotny, Mesdames Frank and Joseph Novotny and Mrs. Anton Schultz left for Cedar Rapids to attend the funeral services.
The Clarkson firemen gave their 7th annual ball at Tmes Bros. hall on Thanksgiving Day. The Clarkson band was on hand and furnished the music. Everything went fine until 11 o’clock when the stove that warms the hall began to smoke and soon the smoke was so thick you could cut it with a knife. A man was sent up the roof to examine the chimney and reported everything OK but the stove continued to smoke and as a last report it was carried to the street and the wind allowed to blow through the hall to clear it of smoke but it was cold and disagreeable and the evening’s enjoyment came to a close. The next morning an examination showed that a bartender’s apron had been wadded up and pushed down the chimney, shutting off the draft. It was a low-lived contemptible trick and we hope the fellow finds himself under lock and key in the safe keeping of the state.
Frank Knapp, Sr. died at the home of his son-in-law, J. R. Dubsky at Leigh. He died about 10 days after he received injuries in a accident when he fell from a wagon. He was found unconscious, lying in the road by Henry Welgert and never recovered from the injuries.
B. Reicks held a farm sale at the old Braucht farm 2 ½ miles southeast of town and the Reicks are planning to move to Montana to make their future home.
December 12, 1905 - reprinted June 24, 1981Anton Janda is putting in a dam across Maple Creek on his place just north of town in order that he may have a suitable place to cut ice for the use of one or two businessmen.
While coming to town with a load of grain, Alois Molacek; had the misfortune to lose a horse. The animal suddenly took ill and before anything could be done for it, laid down and died.
Charles Kamensky, Jr., has made another advancement in railroad circles. He is now holding down a position in the city ticket office of the Northwestern in Omaha where he draws a salary of $75.00 per month.
December 19, 1905 - reprinted July 15, 1981Dr. Allen’s driving team ran away Saturday, and before they could be stopped, succeeded in making a complete wreck of the buggy to which they were hitched.
Frank Dvorak and Josie Zvacek were married by County Judge Vining at Stanton.
Kopac Bros. pulled out for Leigh with their steam well machine where they will put down a test well for the village. Our Leigh neighbors are making arrangements to put in a system of waterworks and want to be sure of a supply of water before they commence work.
Farmers State Bank opened its doors for the transaction of business. To start with the bank has a capital stock of $15,000 all paid up. Dr. F. Petr is president of the institution. John Noh is vice president and J.D. Wolf is cashier.
December 26, 1905 - reprinted July 8, 1981Joseph Bukacek starts out with his portable sawmill to cut up a lot of cottonwood lumber for our farmers. The mill which is of his own make, is driven by a steam threshing machine engine, and does excellent work.
Charles Renter sold his 120 acres, northeast of town, to Joseph Fajman for the consideration of $100 per acre..
Clarkson markets: Good milling wheat $0.60 to $0.64, good milling rye $0.50, corn $0.29, oats $0.23, eggs $0.18, butter $0.15, hogs $4.55.
A baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Longin Folda.