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:
March 9, 1909 - reprinted April 8, 1987Last Saturday a little son was born to John Dvorak and wife of Wilson precinct.
Charles Renter, a farmer of this neighborhood, last week sold his farm south of Howells for $115 an acre and will quit farming and move to Leigh.
Joseph Krikac sold three lots, which he recently purchased of Mestl Bros., and are located on the east side of the street opposite Faiman & Pokorny’s store, to J. D. Wolf for $975. Mr. Wolf bought them as an investment.
Frank Benes has sold his residence property in the west part of town to Adolf C. Fajman. The consideration was $2,350. Mr. Benes will move to Colorado in hope of benefiting his health, and left this morning for that state to look up a location.
Anton Klinsky has purchased a ticket of J. M. Mundil, which will insure the passage of Joseph Novotny from Bohemia to Clarkson. The gentleman is a relative of Mr. Klinsky and will come with the intention of making this his home.
J. M. Mundil has sold 120 acres of the Eman Karel farm, which he purchased a short time ago, to Josqh Franek for $70 an acre.
March 16, 1909 - reprinted June 10, 1987Frank Jirous has made another investment in Clarkson real estate, having purchased the residence property owned by the Zabka estate. He will occupy the same while his new home is being built.
Carl Hoff and wife of Midland precinct took their departure for Boone county, where they will make their home on a farm that Carl has rented from George Moore, a former Colfax county resident.
The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company is now offering $1.35 per day for section hands. It is not a big wage, but it is better than they have been paying.
Alois Tomes informs us that he will tear down his old hall building, which is one of the landmarks of the town, and erect on the lot where it stands a brick store building. It will be a great improvement.
For some months Mrs. Anton Vais has been far from well and yesterday her husband accompanied her to Omaha to consult a specialist.
Joseph Hajduk will have a house built on the lots in the south part of town which he recently bought. George Anderson is to do the work.
James Kadlec resigned his position as section foreman at this place in order that he might engage in the livery business at Scribner with his brother-in-law, Emil Stodola. He shipped his household goods to that place yesterday and he and his wife went down on last evening's train. John Sajatovich, formerly of this place, but recently in charge of the Snyder section, is the new boss here, and he and his family arrived yesterday.
Mrs. Joseph Maticka and children went to Schuyler to visit relatives for a few days before going to their new home near Wolbach in Howard county. Joe will leave a car of stock, farm machinery and household goods for the latter place.
Will Placek has sold out at Elm Creek, Buffalo county and one day last week he and his family arrived here for a visit with relatives before going to their new home in Prague, to which place Will went yesterday and where he will engage in the livery business.
Anton J. Vlach is another of our young business men, who is going to have a home of his own. Last week he let the contract to George Anderson for the building of a modern residence upon the lots owned by him south of the New Zion church. Work will commence as soon as the frost is out of the ground so that the foundation can be laid.
John Hajek passed away in death at an early hour at the family home a few miles northwest of this place. He had been in poor health for quite some time.
March 23, 1909 - reprinted June 17, 1991J. M. Mundil reports the sale of 80 acres of his Stanton county land, 40 to Jos. Franek and 40 to George Severa.
Charles Mrsny and Albin Zastera returned from a few day’s hunt along the Platte. They found game plentiful and brought home with them 85 ducks and 9 geese.
J. M. Mundil returned from a business trip to Gregory, S.D., near which place he owns land. While there he met a number of former Clarkson people whom he found well suited with their new homes.
Hagen & Falty have purchased of Joseph Slama the three lots just north of their livery barn, having paid $750 for them.
Blanche, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Engel, has been seriously ill the past two weeks and at times it was feared that she could not recover, but at last reports from the sick room are encouraging. A professional nurse, Miss Grady, is here from Omaha to assist in the care of the little patient.
Joseph A. Fiala arrived from Goodnight, Oklahoma and was a guest several days with relatives in Clarkson and Howells. Joe was a former resident of this precinct but failing health compelled him to leave and he had been living in Arizona and Oklahoma. However, now he is looking well and feeling fine and is ready to return to Nebraska.
Frank Teply and John Hamernik got back from a week’s land investigating tour which took them to points in South Dakota, including Gregory and Dallas, and a trip over a part of Tripp county lands. Some of the features of the country impressed them favorably and, taken as a whole, they were quite well pleased with what they saw and later may conclude to invest in real estate there.
Vaclav Samson and John Bartunek arrived in Clarkson to work and save money with which to furnish a home and send for their families who reside in Bohemia. The first-named man has been in America a little over a year working in the coal mines at Pittsburg, Pa., where he met and became acquainted with Rev. V. Losa, formerly pastor of the Zion church southeast of here.
The other gentleman but recently arrived in this country having tarried but three days at Pittsburg before coming west. They are friends of John Lukl of south of town, and having the appearance of men of thrifty disposition they, like many before them, will soon have homes of their own established in the part of the greatest country under the sun. March 22, 1909 [?] - reprinted June 19 [?], 1991At a citizens’ caucus held at the city hall last evening, and of which Anton Kopac was chairman and Ed Koza secretary, Emil Petr and Jos. Vosacek were placed in nomination for village trustees.
Joseph Schultz, Jr., arrived here from El Reno, Okia., on a visit to his father and other relatives. He only remained over night, however, as he received a message announcing the serious illness of one of his children and he took the train for home this morning.
The latter part of last week Joseph Ktikac sold the David Hefti farm of 120 acres, southwest of town, to Max Hejtmanek for $110 per acre, and then sold Dave a quarter-section place, three miles south of Lindsay for $100 an acre. Possession of both farms will be given the first of next March.
Postmaster Krahulik has let the contract to Woerth Bros. of Scribner for the erection of a neat, modern, pressed brick building for postoffice purposes. The same is to be 25x36 feet and will occupy the site of the present office. Work on its construction will commence as soon as the present building can be moved off of the lot.
J. D. Wolf has purchased the old Tomes saloon of Dr. S. G. Alien and is having it moved onto a lot he owns just north of the Wolf & Vitek machine shed. John Pospichal is doing the work.
Emil R. Dudek, Dr. F. B. Schultz and Anton, Frank and Joe Kopac went to Schuyler early Saturday morning in Dr. Schultzs’ auto and from there took the train to Omaha. They returned Sunday evening and brought back with them two autos - one a seven-passenger, 50-horse power Jackson. the property of Mr. Dudek, and the other a Fuller, a high-wheel machine, for which Kopac Bros. have the agency.
Emil Wolf and wife were here from Beemer several days last week on a visit to relatives. For some time Emil has been assistant cashier of the Beemer State Bank, but he has severed his connection with that institution to accept the position of cashier of the Bank of Morse Bluff at Morse Bluff in Saunders county.
It is quite an advancement for him. His place at Beemer will be filled by another former Clarkson boy, Joseph Severa, Jr., who, until recently, has been bookkeeper in one of the Bruno banks. We are glad to note the success of both of these worthy young men.The latter part of last week Joseph Suchy invested in the Fred Moeller farm of 160 acres near Leigh. The price paid was $110 an acre, and the sale was made through Joseph Krikac.
Jos. J. Fajman has purchased the Frank Hegr dray business and assumed charge of the same last Thursday.
Jos. F. Jirovec returned from a two weeks stay at Wasta, S. D. Gus Koza, who went up with him, remained for the present to take up his residence on his homestead.
Mrs. Joseph Fillipi and Mrs. Adolph Fillipi were passengers to Omaha yesterday morning and expect to return this evening accompanied by Joseph Fillipi, who has been receiving hospital treatment in that city for some weeks. His health is gradually improving which is pleasant news to his host of friends.
We see by the Oklahoma State Capital that Dr. Geo. A. Allen, formerly of this place, has been at Guthrie, in the capacity of a skillful eye, ear and throat specialist, examining employees of the Santa Fe railroad system. The paper states that on this tour of inspection, which was but recently inaugurated, Dr. Allen examined and reported on over 1200 men.
Joseph Krikac has a new five-passenger, 4-horse power Oakland auto which he purchased through V. L. Prazak of this place. Messrs. Prazak and Krikac went to Omaha Friday and run up with the car the following day.
Dr. S. G. Allen and Ed Koza invested in a quarter-section of the Wisherd ranch land, paying $100 an acre for the tract. They have leased the farm to W. H. Clark who will move onto it as soon as the house on the place can be put in repair. They are now having lumber hauled with which to build a barn.
Joseph Krahulik has sold his farm of 160 acres, 5 miles northeast of this place, to V. Svoboda, the Heun merchant, for $115 per acre. Mr Svoboda bought the place as an investment, and there is no question about it being a good one. Any farm in this locality purchased for $150 an acre or less will make money for the buyer.
March 30, 1909 - reprinted July 22, 1987In the district court at Schuyler, Julia Janda was granted a divorce from her husband, Anton Janda, and awarded the custody of their minor children.
A little son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Novotny who reside in the Heun neighborhood.
Dr. George Allen arrived here from Harlan, Iowa to make Clarkson his home and engage in the practice of medicine with his brother. The new firm of Drs. Allen & Allen will be a strong one.
It looks as though the spring election in so far as Clarkson is concerned will be a tame affair. There is only one ticket in the field. Upon this ticket Anton Kopac, Joseph R. Vitek and Emil R. Dudek are the nominees. Anton J. Karel was chairman of the caucus, and Jos. Krikac acted as chairman.
They have a son at the Frank Hegr home, born last Thursday.
Julius Wacha has sold a half interest in his general merchandise store to John V. Bos and the new firm will be known as Wacha & Bos.
George Hagen went to Chicago to spend a few weeks in that city to select two automobiles for the use of the Leaf livery and to take instructions in running the machines.
Anton Blecha and family moved down from their Stanton county farm last week onto the Zabka place just west of town which Mr. Blecha purchased some time ago.
A little daughter arrived to make her home with John Hamernik and wife.
Frank Zabka spent two days in Nance county and while there purchased a farm of 160 acres onto which he and his family will move in another year.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fisher.
Emil Dudek, one of Clarkson’s students at the Fremont Normal, is sick with smallpox, is a mild form, as are about a dozen other students at the school. They are under quarantine and are given the best care possible and it is thought that the spread of the disease has been checked.
A large delegation of relatives and friends from Clarkson and vicinity were in Howells to attend the funeral of the late Mrs. A. J. Studnicka.