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:
April 6, 1909 - reprinted August 12, 1987Joseph Suchy has divided and sold the Hajduk property which he recently purchased. The lot with the residence he sold to Anton Belina and the vacant lot to Ed. Loukota.
Mr. and Mrs. Zelenda returned last Wednesday evening from Omaha where they were married. The bride is the former Miss Pauline Severa. This estimable couple is making their home in Clarkson as the groom is one of the businessmen of our town.
J. D. Wolf and Jos. Vitek reached Clarkson at an early hour yesterday morning from Omaha with a five-pessenger touring car, of the Mason make. Mr. Wolf was the purchaser.
Jos. J. Lapour took his departure for South Dakota where he has secured several jobs of carpenter work.
Joseph Jirovec has sold his residence property in the southeast part of town for $1,950 to Ed Novotny.
Dr. F. B. Schultz left yesterday morning on a business trip to Chicago. We will not be surprised if he returns home the owner of a down-to-date auto.
Frank Votroubek arrived here frem Bohemia, having come to join his brother, John, who has been here for a few years.
Kopac Bros business has increased to such an extent that they are in need of more room and are planning on putting up a substantial brick structure.
John Noh left this morning for an extended trip to the coast country. He is going to visit the state of California and then take a steamer to Oregon and Washington.
Alois Tomes has decided to put up a double-front cement block building on his two lots on the west side of main street and on which his old hall and the Tomes & Slama saloon stands. The old hall, which is one of the landmarks of the town, will be torn down and the saloon building will be moved into the street and used until the new building is completed. The south half of the building will be used for a general store by Wacha & Bos, and will be 25 x 100 feet and the north room, to be occupied by Tomes and Slama is to be 25 x 80 feet.
April 13, 1909 - reprinted September 2, 1987Chas. Mrsny left with a car of stock, farm machinery, household goods, etc., for Gregory, S.D. His wife and sons will leave at a later date. The family will make their home there.
Dr. F. B. Schulze returned from Chicago where he went to select and purchase an auto. He secured one of his liking in a five-passenger Pullman machine which is to arrive in a few days.
Emil Slama sold a lot owned by him and located in the southeast part of town to John Hamernik. The price paid was $400.
Joseph Suchy has purchased the old photograph gallery that stands on the lot west of the Noh hotel and will move it onto the part of the lot between the Swoboda hall and the saloon. He will fix it up for Frank Benes who will open a jewelry store in the same.
The work of tearing down the Tomes hall is well under way, and before the end of the week the last timber of the old landmark will be removed.
Joseph Srb and wife moved here from their farm north of Howells and took possession of the Alois Cerv residence.
Geo. Hagen returned last Saturday from Chicago, where he had been to take instructions in running and handling automobiles. While there he purchased a forty-horse power White Steamer steam auto for the use of the Clover Leaf Livery.
Frank Jirous of this place and Miss Josephine Koukal of Omaha were married today in that city and are expected here this evening. The groom is the miller at the Clarkson Mill and is one of our best and most popular citizens. The bride is a sister of Mrs. John Markytan and is quite well known and highly spoken of as she has visited here with her sister on several occasions.
The accident that happened on our streets last Sunday brings to our mind that sometime [sic] should be done immediately to stop the reckless driving that has been going on, on our streets for the past several months. It seems as though some people have become imbued with the thought that our streets are regular speedways and that they can spin along at a gait that is not only dangerous to their own safety, but to pedestrians as well. We have state laws and city ordinances regulating the speed and the driving of an auto and these laws should be strictly enforced, be the offenders our own citizens or strangers.
There is no more dangerous menace to society than the fool who is always getting into a race with other autoists on the public highway, and next to him is the fellow who when he strikes the limits of a town or city will not observe the rules of traffic. We have laws and ordinances governing the auto. Let’s enforce them that our citizens travel our streets in safety. If we don’t do this we will some day have an accident that may cause the loss of a few lives, and then--well then it will be too late.
There is another matter, too, in regard to auto driving that ought to be enforced and that is the use of the muffler. A couple of weeks ago along about thirty minutes after twelve, some rowdies gathered in a car, drove through town it would not have been so bad, but they kept going around three or four blocks in the residence districts for a half hour or more. We are told that this is a common occurrence in certain parts of town and its time the authorities are putting a stop to it.
If people who drive autos cannot learn to drive a car sensibly let the law teach them that they must do so. Our policeman should bring every offender before the judge---Humphrey Democrat.
Ed. Note: The aforegoing may be equally as well applied to Clarkson and other neighboring towns. The country is overrun by speed maniacs and right now is the time to take them in tow.Principal Jelinek employed for another year at a salary of $95 per month, Stella Folda at $70, and Miss Theresa Tooher and Mary Platz at $60 per month. Misses Frances Bright and Bessie Dolezal were not applicants. The teachers reelected were all given in advance in wages of $5 per month.
April 13, 1909 - reprinted September 9, 1987Last Sunday will long be remembered by the members of the ZCBJ Lodge as it was an eventful epoch in its history. Fifty-four new members were received into the organization, giving them a total membership of 260.
John Tlustos sells residence and four acres of land in south Clarkson to John Rosicky and Emil Cinfl who paid him $1600 for the place. They will cut up the property and sell as separate lots.
April 20, 1909 - reprinted September 30, 1987A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. V. J. Chleboun on April 14.
John Chleboun and wife have a little daughter at their home in Schuyler.
George Klimes left for Plainview and Orchard having become interested in the land proposition in that part of the state.
John Pospichal, the Clarkson housemover, is a busy man these days. Last week he moved a house in the Suchy addition for Anton Belina, and this week he has a barn to move for Emil Nykodem as well as some buildings on the Trojan place.
Anton Janda was at Lindsay last week figuring on putting in a shoe store but has since changed his mind and informs us that he will leave in a few days for Wasta, S.D., where he intends to locate.
Otto Thaden of the Leigh vicinity marketed seven hogs here today that brought him $129. Otto figures that he is several dollars to the good as a result of coming to Clarkson which has the reputation of being the best hog market in the county.
Rev. Zak officiated at a double wedding yesterday morning at the Roman Catholic church at this place at which Miss Frances Knapp and Fred J. Skoda, and Miss Frances Baigl and Henry L. Knapp acted as the principals. Mr. Knapp and the bride of Mr. Skoda are brother and sister, their parents being Matous Knapp and wife of this neighborhood, and both are highly regarded in the community. The other two young people are not so well known here having made their home near Leigh, but they share in the good wishes and good will extended by friends here to the young man and the young lady who are to be their life partners.
A wedding reception was held Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hron, north of town, to celebrate the marriage of their daughter, Anna, to Ladislav Krejsa, which was solemnized that morning at the Zion church, the pastor, Rev. Svoboda, having performed the ceremony. Many nice gifts were bestowed upon the bridal couple.
The groom has worked for some years at this place as a harness maker at Frank Cerv’s shop and has won the reputation of being a reliable young man of thrifty habits. He has resigned his position and is locating on a farm in Stanton county on which he and his bride, who is an estimable young lady, will make their home.Dr. F. B. Schultz got his new Pullman automobile.
Jos. F. Zacek of Howells was here and closed a deal whereby he became the owner of the Frank Koci farm of 120 acres southeast of this place. Mr. Koci acquires a quarter section farm which Mr. Zacek owned in Merrick county.
Longin Folda, Frank Wolf, Emil R. Dudek, Anton Odvarka and J. M. Mundil were in Dodge, Sunday attending a celebration held there on that day in honor of the 10th anniversary of the instituting of the ZCBJ Lodge at that place.
This morning, Miss Hermie Rayman and Louis Kabes drove to Stanton, where they were united in the bonds of matrimony, the vows having been taken before County Judge Cowan.
Upon their return this afternoon, a reception will be given in their honor at the home of the lady’s parents, Joseph Rayman and wife, just north of town, where a fine wedding dinner is awaiting them.There appears to be no further doubt about the building of the north and south railroad that will connect the wheat fields of the Dakotas and the rich farming country to the south of them with the Gulf of Mexico, giving a cheap outlet for the products of the farm that after reaching the gulf can be loaded upon ships and transported to the markets of the world. Two years ago, a line was surveyed, and through Nebraska contracts for options on the right-of-way were secured. The survey came into Clarkson from the northwest, crossing tbe line of the northwestern east of the mill, running thence southeast until it strikes the half-section line in Section 8, where it runs straight south for one hundred miles. It strikes David City, but misses Schuyler by a little better than two miles. Attorney Kearney of Stanton, who had charge of securing of contracts for the right-of-way was confident when here at the time that the road would be built.
April 20, 1909 - reprinted November 25, 1987Frank Uridil, who has been an assistant at Nye Schneider Fowler Co.’s yards at his place, has been advanced by the firm and given a position in their employ at Gregory S.D., for which place he took his departure last Wednesday.
Last Wednesday Miss Theresa Tooher accidently slipped and fell hurting her left arm badly, and later Dr. Allen found upon examination that one of the bones in the forearm was split. On Thursday morning she left for her home near Schuyler and Miss Julia Holan is acting as her substitute as teacher in the second primary department of our public schools during her absence.
The following named pupils of the Clarkson schools took the 8th grade county examination held here last Thursday and Friday; Edward Makousky, Will Rosicky, Chas. Lukl, Emil Krahulik, Arthur Hahn, Adolph Vraspir, Libbie Cibulka, Elsie Roether, Bertha Dusatko, Emma Vitek, Bozenz Odvarka, Lydia Hejtmanek, Josie Polansky and Ida Svoboda. The Pupils from the adjoining districts who came in and also took the examinations were Mary Konicek, Blahoslav Svoboda, Guy Brown and Bohuslav Novotny.
Emil Petr has awarded the contract to George Anderson for the construction of a commodious residence on the lots he owns just north of the public school grounds. The plans call for a thoroughly modern building.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Fiala on Friday.
Frank Prazak and wife welcomed a little daughter at their home last Thursday.
Frank Stodola has let the contract to George Anderson for the building of a modern residence on lots owned by him in the northwest part of town. Work on the building has been commenced.
This morning Anton Zabka moved his family down from Leigh, and they will make their home in the Ruzicka residence in the northeast part of town. Anton will work as a carpenter with John Hamernik. The many friends of the family are pleased to welcome them back to Clarkson.
Anton Vais was at Omaha last Thursday and Friday to be with his wife who on the first named day underwent a second operation at one hospital of that city. Her host of friends will be glad to know that she a getting along nicely since the last operation and it is thought can return home within the next two weeks.
John J. Koliha yesterday made the sale of a Bernard Jonas farm of 240 acres in Wilson precinct to Frank J. Oborny for a consideration of $20,400. Mr. Oborny was for many years a Colfax County citizen, but has recently been living in Kansas, but his longing for Nebraska has brought him back to the old home to stay.
Clarkson is to have two ball teams this season, the invincible Juniors and the newly organized Vosacek nine. Both are ready for business-the Juniors to meet anything of their size, the Vosaceks or any nine regardless of size or location.
Yesterday Hagen & Faltys sold a lot in the west part of town to John Kabes of Stanton County, and George Anderson has been given the job of putting up a residence on the same. When it is completed Mr. Kabes and wife will move to town and enjoy a rest that they have earned by long years of work on the farm.
The new village board organized last Tuesday evening by electing Anton Kopac chairman. The following officers were appointed for the ensuing year: Jos. Mlnarik, clerk; J.D. Wolf, treasurer; Wm. Kroeger, marshal; Dick Gould, water commissioner and electrician. A street commissioner will be appointed at the next meeting of the board.
April 27, 1909 - reprinted November 25, 1987Clarkson is to have another cement block building, Joseph Slama having let the contract to E.F. Kutin for the erection of a two-story building, 25x50 feet, on the corner where his present building stands. A force of men will begin work on the structure within the next few weeks.
The Clarkson lodge, A.O.U.W., has chosen Joseph Hand to represent the local organization at the grand lodge of the order which meets at Lincoln on May 11th, for a three days’ session. Vaclav Telecky was elected alternate.
Emil Slama has sold his residence property to Jos. J. Jirovec for $1,600, taking in part payment the Jirovec restaurant business of which he will assume charge June 1st.
Mr. and Mrs. George Engel have been called upon to mourn the death of their little daughter Blanche who passed away at an early hour last Wednesday morning.
Emil Holoubek of Howells has secured a position in the employ of Nye Schneider Fowler Co. at this place, having taken the berth made vacant by the promotion of Frank Uridil. Emil has been unable to secure a house as there are none to rent in Clarkson, and for the present he and his wife are staying at the home of Frank Zastera northwest of town.
A deal was closed yesterday whereby John F. Svoboda becomes a half owner in the Clarkson mill and the elevator and grain business conducted in connection with the same, having acquired the interests of Vaclav and Anton Prazak. The consideration for the mill and elevator was $27,000, the stock of flour, feed, grain, etc., to be invoiced. The business will continue to be conducted under the firm name of the Clarkson Milling & Grain Company, the members of the firm being John F. Swoboda, Ed. Polein and Frank Prazak. In the deal MessrS. Vaclav and Anton Prazak become the owners of the Swoboda farm of 240 acres, two and a half miles northeast of town, which they took at a valuation of $100 per acre.
The farm homes of Jos. Travnicek and James Podany, northwest of Clarkson, welcomed bright baby boys the forepart of the week.
The box social and program which was to have taken place yesterday at the schoolhouse in Dist. No. 30, located five miles south and one-half mile east of Clarkson, has been postponed on account of bad roads until Friday, May 13. Ladies are requested to bring lunch boxes. Program starts at 8:00 p.m. Anges Folda, Teacher.
Elsewhere in this issue of the Press, our readers will find a page advertisement of C. M. Janecek of Schuyler advertising a one-cent sale. One glance at the prices will convince the reader that Mr. Janecek is offering many rare bargains, such that can seldom be found. Articles worth 5 cents to $5.00 may be purchased in this sale for one cent. Don’t pass this opportunity up, but pay Mr. Janecek a visit at once.
Many of the friends and relatives of the graduates are puzzled as to the gift they should select for the occasion. This has been solved by our druggist, J. L. Stransky, who purchased a large stock of fancy cut glass, and every piece makes a very appropriate gift for the girl graduate. Quantity buying enables him to quote prices lower than anyone else. Just stop in and see what he has.