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:
February 15, 1910 - reprinted January 16, 1991Fayman & Pokorny have disposed of their clothing store to Louis Faltys who is to take charge of the same about March 15th.
John Saffr has sold his dray and express business to Frank F. Vitek who will at once take charge of the same. John will again take up carpenter work.
Will Roether and wife and Louis Roether will leave for Twin Falls, Idaho, where they go to make their home on an irrigated farm that Will owns there.
James Loughrey, Jos. Nykodem and Ludwig Luxa of Howells, representing the A.O.U.W. and the M.W.A. lodges of that place, were here Saturday, making a fraternal call on Chas. Renter who belongs to both organizations and has been experiencing a siege of typhoid fever, but is now improving.
Frank Dudek, Jr. one of the young men of this locality who has gone out into the business world, is heard from again. For some years he has been at Orchard and has resigned his position as assistant cashier in a bank there to accept the cashiership of the Bank of Rogers at Rogers and is already in charge.
Louis Roubinek is now in charge of the Clarkson electric light plant, having succeeded C. A. Gould who left Saturday for Omaha where he has secured employment as a salesman with the Nebraska Electric Co. As Clarkson is in the territory he is to cover, Dick's friends have a chance to see him once in a while.
Joseph F. Jirovec has resigned his position as clerk at Moore & Stodola’s store and will quit work there on the first day of March. He expects to go to South Dakota and engage in farming.
Jos. Suchy went to Plattsmouth this morning where he was called to give testimony in a suit on trial in the district court of Cass county.
Emil Fajman, who has been making his home in Wyoming for some time, returned to Clarkson Wednesday and will remain for the present. He says they have been having some very cold weather out there-entirely too severe to suit him.
Vaclav Budin returned Saturday morning from Schuyler where he had been to give evidence in the suit of Louis Nagengast vs Colfax County, a suit in which Mr. Nagengast sought to collect damages for loss caused by his threshing engine going into a creek in eastern Adams precinct as a result of the breaking down of the bridge. The action was tried to a jury and resulted in favor of the county.
As the masquerade ball given by the Woodmen of the World last Tuesday evening, Mrs. E. R. Dudek secured first ladies' price, a "Spanish Queen." Mrs. John Chadek of Omaha, as "Gypsy Queen" was awarded second price, and third honors went to Miss Wasko, also of Omaha, masked as "Folloy Girl." There were also three gentlemen's prizes, of which John Chadek of Omaha, gotten up as the devil, took the first, and the second was given to Jos. F. Jirovec and Frank Uridil, the latter of Howells, attired to represent, "Peary at the North Pole;" the third prize was bestowed upon Mrs. Al Schultz, dressed as an Indian, and her husband, Al Schultz of Omaha, carried off the prize for the most comical mask costumed as an "Old Country Farmer." A large crowd attended and the Zak band furnished music.
A light which will answer many purposes can be made at a cost of a few cents.
Obtain from the druggist a piece of phosphorus about the size of a pea. Put this in a small bottle and add enough olive oil (Which has previously been heated, but not boiled, for a quarter of an hour) to fill a third of the bottle's capacity. Now fix a very tight-fitting cork.
This novel lamp is perfectly safe, and the light it gives enables one to see the time or do many little things during the night. One will also give comfort to the kiddies.
Should the light become dim, just uncork the bottle for a few moments, when the glow will be renewed.
February 22, 1910 - reprinted March 6, 1991Dr. Schultz has purchased of John V. Bos the lot adjoining his residence property on the south, paying $900 for it.
Ed, Emil and Jim Kopac have each proved up on their homesteads near Okaton, South Dakota. Emil and Jim are making arrangements to return to Clarkson within the next few weeks, while Ed will go to Montana to have a look at the country.
Jos. Tomes, Jr., who has been working for Chleboun Bros. for some months, left this morning for Omaha where he intends to take a course at a business college.
Hogs are bringing $8.70 per hundred on the Clarkson market today, the highest price ever paid in the history of the town and we believe in the history of the county.
John Blotz went to Schuyler Tuesday. He received word that his son, Frank, who travels for Swift & Co., had got that far on his way home and was not able to get any further. This son was badly hurt at Platte Center some time ago and had been in the hospital at Omaha for a month. He probably left the hospital too soon. Mr. B. was very uneasy about him. -Albion Argus
Joseph Krepel and wife have a little son at their home, born on Friday last.
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Will Siebert of Wilson precinct on Saturday.
Last Thursday morning Will Roether and his wife and Louis Roether took their departure for Twin Falls, Ida., where they intend to make their home.
A few days ago Jos. Fajman purchased a team of horses of W. H. Clark for which he paid $700, the highest price so far recorded for a work team in this section. The horses are high grade Normans, and a better team is not to be found in these parts. Mr. Fajman considers them well worth the price he paid.
Bohumil Kryl and his company gave a concert at the Vosacek opera house last evening. He is the foremost Bohemian cornetist, one of the best, and in his program was supported by most able talent — Miss Josephine, his daughter, a brilliant violinist who charmed all who heard her, Jaroslav Cimera, the trombone virtuso, and a noted pianist. The hall was completely filled with an appreciative audience.
Upon the arrival of the company yesterday afternoon, they were met at the depot by the Clarkson Cornet band and a large delegation of citizens who escorted them to the hotel. A number were here from neighboring towns to enjoy the evening’s program.A very pretty home wedding took place last Wednesday evening at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Krikac when the marriage of Mr. John Beran and Miss Helen Krahulik was solemnized. The ceremony was most impressive and was performed by Rev. Svoboda.