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:

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November 2, 1909 - reprinted March 21, 1990

Rev. Zak conducted All Soul’s day services at the Roman Catholic church and at the conclusion of Mass, the entire congregation attended by the priest and headed by the Clarkson band, marched to the cemetery adjoining town where an appropriate service was held at the graves of the Clarkson dead.

Jerry Cerv is driving an extra-fine team of mules that he purchased of W. H. Clark and for which he paid $480.

Section nine of the Marshall Field estate was sold at guardian’s sale at Stanton and was purchased by the following parties: Louis Smithberger and Dr. Syl Person the northwest quarter for $72.50 per acre, Albert Noe the northeast and southeast quarters, paying for the former $82 per acre and for the latter $78.75 per acre.

Dr. Allen has sold the Will McInerny 80, which he purchased a short time ago, to Joseph Kotan for a consideration of $80 per acre.

A merry crowd of young ladies and young gentlemen gathered at the Vosacek hall by invitation of Mrs. Frank Miller and Miss Mary Platz.
    The occasion was a farewell reception for Miss Emma Chleboun who left to be absent a year to perfect her talents as a musician under the supervision of one of the leading teachers of Omaha, in advanced music, Miss Karbach.
    Light hearts and tripping feet kept time to the music of the Clarkson band, and besides those present from town and vicinity were friends from Dodge and Schuyler.

Emil Slama has sold the saloon building he recently purchased of his brother Joseph, together with one of the lots owned by him north of the Clover Leaf livery, to Dr. Chudomelka, who intends to fit up the building for offices purposes.

Will Noh, who recently moved here from Idaho, wrote to his brother, Fred, that he is well pleased with the western country and that since going there he has bought an additional 40-acre tract adjoining the land he already had.
    The 40 is under irrigation and the most of it is in alfalfa. In addition to farming, Will has concluded to engage in the buying of livetock at Buhl.

Mrs. Antonia Luxa, wife of Wenzel of this place, died at the family home after a long illness of a cancer. She recently underwent an operation at Omaha in the hope that her days might be prolonged, but all efforts proved unavailing and she passed away into the long sleep of death leaving a family of grown-up children to mourn with their father the passing away of one who leaves a vacancy in the family circle that can never be filled.
    The children are Joseph, John and Louis of Stanton county and Wenzel of this place, Mary, wife of Charles Psotta of Stanton county, Antonia, wife of Jos. Hrouda of Dodge county, Agnes, wife of Frank T. Sindelar of Tabor, Barbara, wife of Rudolph Hamsa, Anna, wife of Jos. Stoklasa, and Bessie, wife of John Hejtmanek, all three of this locality, besides Rose who is still at home.

The State Teachers’ association meeting at Lincoln on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week promises to be a hummer. Those in attendance from here are F. Jelinek, and Misses Theresa Tooher, Eleanor Cech, Stella Folda, Mayme Shonka, Mary and Lena Platz, Anna Bukacek and Swoboda.
    The last two named ladies left for the state’s capital yesterday morning and the others went down this Wednesday morning. The public schools of our town closed yesterday afternoon and the pupils are enjoying a vacation for the remainder of the week.

Dr. S. G. Allen purchased through the agency of Joseph Krikac a half-section Madison county farm located six miles from the town of Madison. All of the doctor’s investments in Nebraska lands have proven profitable, and without doubt this one will.

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November 2, 1909 - reprinted March 28, 1990

Brakeman Cooper on eastbound Extra No. 207, green fruit train, was injured when he was struck by the water crane east of the depot and knocked from the gangway of the engine to the ground. Cooper was riding on the gangway and was leaning out to catch a signal from the caboose. He leaned out too far and did not notice the crane as he was facing the west. He suffered a couple of bad scalp wounds and a badly lacerated ear. After a stop of some fifteen minutes, the train proceeded to North Bend where Cooper was given first aid treatment. The train was going about fifty miles per hour when the accident occurred.

Honor Roll
    Names of pupils who were perfect in attendance for October:
    Beginners - Olga Severa, Adella Lodl, Libbie Makousky, Albie Hajek, Mary Zak, Irma Vanderbeek, Clara Vair, Sylva Kabes, Mary Sajatovic, Agnes Dvorak, Bozena Srb, Lilly Tichy, Alan Dusatko, Adolf Karel, Gilbert Noh, Joe Svoboda, Willie Kabes, Jerry Sixta, Emil Motycka, Stanley Svoboda, Joe Dvorak.
    First Grade - Emma Brdicko, Olga Indra, Libbie Basta, Bertha Hudex, Celia Kutin, Olga Lodl, Helen Krikac, Mary Slama, Arine Folda, Libbie Cimfl, Fannie Jonas, Bessie Sixta, Frank Zastera, Joseph Engel, Victor Wacha, Fred Kutin Henry Rosicky, Rudolf Ruzicka, Frank Basta, Robert Tomes, Elva Folda, George Humlicek, Edw. Kutin, Vladislav Odvarka, Martha Bukacek, Bessie Boubin, Josephine Fillipi.
    Second Grade - Mary Koci, Margaret Kutin, Blanche Humlicek, Jos. Bos, Aldin Faltys, Joe Zak, Helen Vais, Emma Vosacek, Bessie Cadek, Joseph Luxa, Bettie Polensky, Esther Wolf, Nathan Moore, Rudolf Tomes, Lambert Roubinek, John Pospichal, Rainold Rayman.
    Third Grade - Alice Karel, Edward Tomes, Ahrens Chadek, Jerry Basta, Libbie Bos, Ludmila Koci, Anna Sajatovic, Doris Fiala, Rudolph Rosicky, Mabel Moore, Phyllis Krahulik, Jerry Zak, Willie Ruzicka, Stanley Krikac, Jos. Indra, Libie Filipi, Mamie Jonas, Leonard Rozmarin.
    Fourth Grade - Olga Dusatko, Joe Noh, Emily Tomes, Polly Hajek, Ervin Zabka, Fred Brdicko, Anna Pospichal.
    Fifth Grade - Ad. Zastera, Lillie Suchy, Sylva Rayman, Agnes Basta, Agnes Pospichal.
    Sixth Grade - James Zoubek, Stanley Kubik, Lambert Krahulik, Mary Kutin, Robert Noh, Polly Polansky, Emma Rayman, Helen Vosacek.
    Seventh Grade - Louise Polansky, Hedvika Koci, Lamar Folda.
    Eighth Grade - Edward Makousky, Leonard Noh.
    High School - Bohumil Novotny, Laura Woeppel, Henrietta Bukacek.

The United States of America filed a petition in the district court last week, alleging that Jos. Sup of Clarkson,who was granted a citizenship certificate on October 5. is guilty of misrepresentation at the hearings held in October. The petition cites that the defendant, Sup, "pleaded his alien status as a bar to the performance of military duty, and claimed exemption [rest of article missing].

[first part of article missing] and Mr. and Mrs. Jaroslav Folda of Schuyler were here visiting relatives.

Baumert and Bogner report the sale of a two hole John Deere corn sheller to Ernest Sellhorst.

Mr. and Mrs. James Palik returned from Excelsior Springs, Mo., where they spent about three weeks. They made the trip in their Paige car and since returning home Mr. Palik is more than ever a great booster of the Nebraska highways. Going down they took the route through southeast Kansas and the return trip was made by the way of Iowa. Kansas and Missouri are reputed to have real poor roads while Iowa has well-graded highways, but since they are not carefully maintained they are in very rough condition. By all means Nebraska highways are like real pavements as compared with the roads traveled by Mr. Palik thru other states.

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November 9, 1909 - reprinted May 9, 1990

J. D. Wolf reports the sale of eleven acres in his addition to Clarkson to Frank Jonas for $250 per acre.

The little daughter of Anton Vais has been seriously ill with lung fever. She is, however, on the mend and has recovered sufficiently to allow the professional nurse, who has been assisting in caring for her, to return to her home at Omaha this morning.

Gus Koza and Joseph F. Jirovec returned from their trip to Wasta, South Dakota, where Gus has property interests. They report Thomas Friet, at one time the Clarkson jeweler, as doing a good business in the same line there, and that Anton Janda, who went there from here last spring, is running a shoe store and enjoying good trade.

Franklin Blotz, a former Clarkson boy, was in town last evening. He is on the road for Swift and Co. of South Omaha, with headquarters at Columbus. As Clarkson is in his present territory his friends here may expect to see him quite often.

Albert Reik and Miss Maggie Elsner of Wilson precinct were married at Schuyler by County Judge Allen. The young couple have commenced housekeeping on the John Noh farm in Midland precinct.

While handling a revolver last Sunday afternoon Frank Hudec accidently discharged the weapon and sent a bullet through the index finger of his left hand, inflicting a painful wound which was dressed by Dr. Allen.

While engaged in playing on a seesaw at the school grounds little Blanche Humlicek fell and broke the bone of her left arm just above the elbow. The injury was given necessary attention by Dr. Allen.

Last Saturday John Hypsa, sr., disposed of his household goods and other personal effects at public sale at his home in the east part of town. Some time ago he sold his residence, and the coming week he and his wife will take their departure for Virginia where several of their children reside and where they expect to make their future home.

At Schuyler, on Wednesday last, J.D. Wolf of this place, as administrator of the estate of the late Fannie Kudrna, sold at public sale to the highest bidder for cash the building occupied by Will Swoboda as a barber shop and the lot on which it stands.
    Clarkson realty is in great demand and those from here who went down to attend the sale and bid on the property were Joseph Suchy, Joseph Krikac, Adolph C. Faiman, Will Swoboda, Frank Dlouhy and Alois Kudrna. Joseph Krikac secured the property on his bid of $1,605. He will use the building for a real estate office, which means that Mr. Swoboda will have to find a new location for his barber shop.

Friends and relatives here are in receipt of neat announcement cards bearing the inscription, "Mr. Emil R. Rozmarin, Miss Geneva M. Leedom, married, Monday, November 8, 1909, Omaha, Nebraska. Home, Stanton, Nebraska."
    The groom, who is a son of Mrs. Frank Rozmarin, spent the days of his childhood and youth in this community, and the young lady who became his bride through the magical words spoken by Rev. T. J. Mackayof Omaha, is a daughter of Mrs. S. Leedom of Howells.