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:
August 2, 1917 - reprinted February 25, 1981Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Fajman and children left for Neligh where they joined an outing party to the western part of the state.
Emil E. Teply, who just finished harvesting seven acres of oats informs us that it yielded 550 bushels, which is nearly 80 bushels per acre.
The new elevator of the Farmers Co-operative Mercantile Co. at Leigh is completed and is now in running order. This structure is the best of its kind west of Omaha and has a capacity of 30,000 bushels.
Prazak Motor Co., was fortunate enough to secure 13 new Ford’s which were delivered this week to John Mastny, Jr., James Molacek, Frank Juva, Oscar Hahn, Anton Suchan, Jos. Svoboda, Emil Blecha, Jos. Kunhart, Jos. Rayman, Jos. Perina, Vaclav G. Jirovec, John F. Mastny and Frank D. Jelinek.
Mrs. Jos R. Krofta and daughter left for Gregory, S.D. to visit in the Jos. W. Kucera home.
John E. Bukacek and Bohumil Beran will open a soft drink stand in the Storz building where A.J. Adamek previously conducted a saloon.
Frank c. Schultz sold his 160-acre farm near Winner S.D. to B.H. Bell of Laurel for the consideration of $40.00 per acre.
Frank J. Hobel returned from the western part of the state where he had been viewing grass lands. He will have his son, Joseph, move there in the near future.
Mrs. Christian Gross and son Benjamin left for Sidney, Nebr. to assist the Gross Bros. who are farming near there with harvesting and threshing. We are informed that crops in Cheyenne county are bountiful.
Mr. and Mrs. Emil Folda and daughters, Laura and Olga, visited relatives and friends in Linwood and David City.
Jos. Mundil,Jr.. Frank Kubik, Albin Folda and Alden Faltys had been for a day’s outing near the Elkhorn River.
Friends will be pleased to hear that Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Wolf of Morse Bluff are rejoicing over the arrival of a baby boy.
Howells citizens begin proud owners of new Ford cars are Leo Wolf, Ben Vogel, Chas. Blazek, John F. Vesely, Anton Tichota, Jos. T. Glodowski, Joseph Hruska and Anton Vlasak.
Edward, little son of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. F. Kovarik is quite ill with a summer complaint and complications.
George W. Heun sold his unimproved 80 acres of the quarter section he purchased of P.E. McKilip, which is better known at the Anton Seda place to John Stracek.
Last week George Lodes purchased the Jos. Blazek Sr., residence in Howells for $1950.00. The property is in the southern part of town.
Mr. and Mrs. John Juva, residing south of town are rejoicing over the arrival of twins, a girl and a boy.
The first wheat of the 1917 crop was marketed by Louis Kudrna to the Clarkson Milling and Grain Co. Mr. Kudrna sold 3 loads which averaged 61 bushels and for which he received the top market price of $2.73 per bushel, netting him the neat sum of $488.65
Peter, one-month old son of Mr. and Mrs. Anton Herout died at the farm home a few miles south of Howells. Funeral services were held in the Bohemian Catholic Church.
A baby boy arrived at the Fred Walters home in Howells.
Miss Mattie Kudera and Mr. Ladie Coufal were married in Fremont by County Judge Winterstein. They will make their home with the bride’s mother in south Howells.
WANTED A number 1 experienced neat, clean and respectable housekeeper, to take care of a nice, clean nine-room house, all modern. To start in at work Sept 1. Must apply for the position personally at my store in Clarkson before August 5. A good place for the right person. Bohemian preferred. Respectfully, Fred Colsch, Clarkson.
August 9, 1917 - reprinted March 4, 1981Jos. M. Mundil sold his 86-acre farm, which he owns one mile north of town to Walter Hahn. The price paid was $15,137.50 for the entire tract. This farm adjoins the land of Mr. Hahn’s father on the north.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Kamensky received word that their son, Charles, station agent at Petersburg, was stricken with paralysis. The paralysis has affected Charley’s left leg from the knee down.
Frank Ondra, 84, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Antonia Hogel at Schuyler. His remains were brought to Clarkson and laid to rest in the cemetery west of town. Rev. B.A. Fillipi officiated.
Stanley Hanel, one of our prosperous farmers, residing southwest of town has given a contract to Lada Hanel for the erection of a residence, 30x30x18 ft. high, with a full basement and all modern equipment; modern barn 38x48x14 ft. high with a shed 16x48; hog shed 28x64 with a concrete basement, making this a two story hog shed. This will be the first of its kind in the country. Corn crib and granary 30x32; chicken house 18x36 and a few smaller buildings. The estimated cost will be $10,000.00
Fred Colsch advertised gasoline at Omaha prices.. $0.23 a gallon.
Jos. Mundil, Jr., Albin Folda and Stanley Kubik left by auto for Crete, where they will spend a week at camping.
Jos. Houdek, who is employed at the Louis Brester farm place, is nursing a quite badly lacerated left arm and is under the care of Dr. Myers. He was engaged in butchering a hog for the family, when the animal in its death agonies turned on him and with its teeth ripped the flesh on his arm clear to the bone.
Jos. Mundil of Dodge spent the day in Clarkson tending to business matters and visiting friends.
J. K. Semerad met with a painful accident while engaged in threshing at his place. He was operating the large gas engine which they use for power with their outfit, when in some manner he got entangled in the belt while in motion. The belt snapped just at the opportune time, and it was indeed a very narrow escape.
Emil Rischoff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stepan Rischoff submitted to minor surgery at St. Catherine’s hospital in Omaha.
Joseph Hegr, a former Schuyler young man, is now serving with General Pershing in France. He and his brother, Frank, were with the general on the Mexican border a year ago. Joseph then went to California, where he enlisted in heavy artillery. Frank went to Wyoming and took up a homestead. He too, is in the Army, but his assignment is unknown. They are brothers of Mrs. Frank Slama of this city.
Emil Ferenc, who is stationed in France, wrote a long letter to his brother, Frank Ferenc, the butcher at Clarkson. In the letter he wrote “How I wish it would be possible for you to mail me some of your home-made bologna.”
Markets were: Wheat-$2.60; Corn -$2.14; Oats-$0.61, top $14.50; Eggs-$0.21 and butter $0.30.
Miss Josephine Hampl has resigned her position at the Wm. Kovar store in Howells and will in the future assist her father in the jewelry store. Miss Martha Bogner will fill the position in the Kovar store.
James A. Drahota purchased the quarter section of land, located due north of Howells and adjoining the Nick Podliska place, for the consideration of $20,000.
Howells Motor Co. delivered a fine 7-passenger Buick touring car to Dr. H.D. Myers.
Frank Kucera was called to Cleveland, Ohio by the sudden death of this brother, John. Mr. Kucera immediately upon the receipt of the message left for the city to be present for the funeral. We were told by Kucera that the deceased was the oldest of the Kucera brothers and the two had not met for over 40 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Emil Stodola, who will move to Dodge as soon as corn husking is done, were victims of a complete surprise when neighbors honored them at a surprise farewell party. They all enjoyed the sumptuous picnic, furnished by the guests and enjoyed visiting and all had a good time.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kral of near Milligan visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. Koci.
Frank J. Hobel will have a public auction on all his dairy stock and farm implements August 22.
Sheriff J.R. Bartunek returned from Detroit with John R. Laird and Charles Shepard, who are charged of forgery. The court bound them over to the October term of district court on a bond $2,000 each and since neither of them has been able to furnish the bond, both of them are spending the time in the county jail.
August 16, 1917 - reprinted March 11, 1981The local exemption board at Schuyler has concluded the examination of the men affected by the selective draft and through the courtesy of County Clerk w. Hugh Fletcher, one of the board, we were furnished the list of drafted men. They are: William W. French, Emil Hladky, Henry J. Dworak, Rudolph Jedlicka, Ernest John H. Ewert, Frank J. Janousek, Henry C. McKean, Joseph F. Chada, Emil J. Novotny, Victor R. Morisch, Everad M. Edgar, W. D. Hollingsworth, Fred Teply, James H. Flinn, Milo Ballon, Frank Krejci, Jr., Alois F. Totusek, Joseph V. Havelka, Charles C. Dworak, Joseph Hejtmanek
John J. Heun, Joseph Kudera, Edward Cada, Jos. Emil Dworak, Herbert Charles Smith, Arthur Conrad Huhn, Edward Groteluschen, Egan A. Stangel, Harry Harold Hunt, Frank J. Faltys, Bohumil J. Svoboda, Frank Bukacek, Jr., Harrison P. Chronister, Otto Holoubek, James Rudolph Kucera, Louis Joseph Evert.Jos. Podany, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Podany, met with quite a serious accident while attending to duties around the threshing machine. In some matter his left hand was caught by the belt leading from the engine to the separator which resulted in cutting all his finger cords. It was necessary for Kr. Kalal to make a number of stitches on each finger, and it is thought that the hand will be affected for life.
Frank Zelenda, who left with the first Clarkson volunteer boys last May, wrote to his sister, Mrs. Anton Makovsky, that he arrived safely in the Philippine Islands and is nearly nine thousand miles from home.
Frank Wolf, V.J. Svoboda and Frank Vacin left for Montana with the intention of investing in Montana land. They drove to Schuyler, where they boarded an overland train for their destination.
A very unfortunate mishap befell Miss Clara Johns while engaged in the performance of her duties as domestic at the Rev. Waldschmidt home at Howells where she is employed. She fell while carrying a dishpan full of glass fruit jars and many of them breaking, cut her about the arms. On her right arm she suffered a very severe wound, having cut the main artery which resulted in the loss of much blood before assistance arrived. Dr. Myers is caring for her.
Emil E. Brodecky finished threshing his crop of small grain and his winter wheat yielded 37 bushels per acre and oats ran about 65 bushels per acre.
J. C. Stanke, living on the Frank M. Hughes farm near Schuyler purchased 30 bushels of wheat seed from Wells-Abbott Nieman Co, and planted about 23 acres this spring. The wheat produced 764 bushels, an average of better than 33 bushels per acre. He sold it to the local mill and received a check for $2,062.80.
Misses Katie and Mary Knipping and Laura Wragge spent Sunday in Beemer visiting their friend, Miss Mary Sauber.
Mr. and Mrs. John Schaffer are the proud parents of a bouncing baby boy. Dr. Allen reports that mother and baby are doing very nicely.
Dr. Allen reports the birth of a baby boy to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Zelenda, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jedlicka of Wilson precinct and Mr. and Mrs. Gus Muhnsen of Stanton County.
Misses Agnes Koci and Louise Jirovec were passengers to Bruno where both will teach in the Bruno city schools.
Bohumil Makovsky and wife of Stillwater, Okla., arrived here this week to spend a few days visiting friends and relatives.
Anton Kunhart was a passenger to Omaha, to be with his brother, Frank, who will submit to a serious operation.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Vach, Sr., returned from a visit with their son, Jerry, who with George Fiala are training at the naval camps at Great Lakes, Ill.
Anton Dvorak of Howells was in Dodge between trains, tending to business matters.
Adamek and Svoboda received a full carload of six cases of the famous Bevo substitute for the old beer.
A Ford car belonging to Ed Telecky was ablaze in front of the Howells Motor Company’s garage. Mr. Telecky stopped to procure a quantity of gas and in the process of filling the tank, the gas overflowed on the exhaust pipe and caught fire. Very little damage resulted.
The Clarkson Community Club purchased a Staude Form A tractor which will be used for dragging roads throughout the precinct. By purchasing the tractor, the dragging proposition is solved, as it is always hard to find someone to drag the roads.
Ladislaus Kubik, who has been a student at the Fort Snelling training camp, was given the commission of second lieutenant.
Despite the heavy rains of Saturday evening and the threatening outlook on early Sunday morning, an unusually large crowd assembled to attend the grand celebration given at the Nagengast grove in Howells, under the auspices of the National Bohemian Alliance and the Union of Catholic societies.
The Harper Concert Party will be one of the Chautauqua attractions in Clarkson which begins Aug. 24 and will last five days.
Albert Kersten sold his farm of 160 acres, located 3 miles west of Howells, to Messrs. Fred and Frank Baumert for the consideration of $165.00 per acre.
August 23, 1917 - reprinted March 18, 1981Anton Rychtig of Stanton County suffered a broken arm in an attempt to crank his Ford car. The motor which evidently was advanced to his backfired causing the crank to strike Anton just above the right wrist.
Bertha Hudec, Harold and Lawrence Chleboun were passengers to Beemer for a visit at the Jos. S. Severa home.
F.J. Miller reports the sale of four fine pianos to Frank Kafka, Mrs. Marie Brabec, Jos. Belina and Jos. Belohrad.
Misses Anna Bos, Matilda Tomes, Ida Karel and Robert Noh made an auto trip to Omaha to visit with Wm. Karel and Leonard Noh, who are stationed at Fort Crook.
While playing in the yard at her home, the two-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Telecky living east of town, met with quite a serious accident. Without the knowledge of her parents, she came near a pumping outlet which was in operation and accidentally had her right hand caught in the gears of the machine. This caused severe crushing of the middle finger. Dr. Kalal was called and he found it necessary to amputate the crushed member.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm Ternes were in West Point to attend funeral services for Mrs. Ternes’ uncle, Wm. Stuefer, who was killed instantly in Macatawas, Mich., when a large pleasure pier upon which he and his wife were standing collapsed. Mrs. Stuefer was seriously injured.
Dr. B.E. Katz, Howells veterinarian, moved his office from the Suchan livery stable to the F J. Purcha building two doors south of Howells Motor Co.
Miss Lillie Bures visited her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Luxa of Howells.
Dr. Allen reports the arrival of a baby girl at the Henry Hefti home and bouncing boys at the J J Dudycha and Frank Evert homes.
The eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. F J Vanicek of Wilson precinct had the misfortune of turning turtle with a Ford car. He received a badly bruised limb.
J.B. Sindelar received a communication from Joseph Skala, a Czech prisoner of war at the present time at LeHarve, France. Mr. Skala is a nephew of the late Frank Skala Sr. of this vicinity.
Frank Vidlak, the popular young assistant at the Howells Bank boarded the train for a visit with friends at Abie.
Funeral services were held in Tabor for the 8-month-old infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Misek.
Mr. and Mrs. Vaclav Telecky decided to have an auction sale on their domestic furnishings and will move to another territory where the climate would be more agreeable for Mrs. Telecky.
Geo. W. Heun sold the 80 acres with full set of improvements of what still remained in his possession of the former Anton Reda place near Howells, and the 80 acres adjoining the grave yard to Edward Jonas for the consideration of $180.00 per acre.
Miss Kunie Rupprecht became the bride of Roy Lovestad at SS Peter and Paul Catholic church in Howells with Rev. J. Pieper officiating. Their attendants were Miss Kate Wieneke and George Rupprecht.
The Bohemian church at Howells was the scene of the wedding of Mary Frost and Jos. H. Muckendorfer. Rev. C.I. Zak officiated and they were attended by Miss Minnie Rose and Frank Coufal.
Louis Mejstrik was laid up for a few weeks with a severe attack of blood-poisoning in one of his feet.
Mr. and Mrs. Jame Palik and Mr. and Mrs. James A. Drahota and John W. Koza of Howells motored to Omaha to take in the merchant’s week festivities.
A bouncing baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. George Gall of Howells.
Fred Walters received a severe sprained ankle when he fell off the roof of the Olean school house while he and his crew were doing some remodeling and repairing.
The 22-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Nadrchal is the victim of a painful accident with which he met while attending a threshing machine. He reached with his right hand into the cutting apartment of the separator for bundles of grain and thus sustained a deep gash in his wrist.
Bukacek and Zrust report the sale of an Avery tractor to Rud and Emil Podany and a Heider tractor to Wenk Bros. near Creston.
Allen Dusatko left from here for Omaha to visit his sister, Mrs. Jos. E.Votava.
Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Krahulik and son, Emil, and John Markytan made an auto trip to Omaha. The Krahulik family will move to Omaha soon where the children will attend higher schools.
Mrs. Emil Petr and son, Jerome, were Howells visitors last Saturday.
A large barn door fell on the arm of Mrs. Barbara Hefti and broke the arm just above the elbow.
Mrs. M. Vavra and children returned to Omaha after spending a week visiting at the Frank Houfek home east of town.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Houfek are the proud parents of a newly born boy, reports Dr. Kalal.
Jerry Zak, who had been employed by the Nye Schneider Fowler Co., here has been transferred to Humphrey.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Placek, who live in Humphrey, is in mourning over the death of their infant child. The remains were brought to Clarkson and laid to rest in the cemetery west of town.
The Rev. Father Bartik celebrated nuptial mass of Miss Marie Ann Konicek, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Konicek and Henry A. Jonas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. A. Jonas. The wedding took place at St. Mary’s church in Schuyler. They were attended by Miss Mildred Konicek and Robert Jonas. Little Martha Konicek carried the rings in an Easter Lily.
Markets were: Wheat $2.00, corn $1.50, oats $0.44, rye $1.50, hogs $17.00, butter $0.32, and eggs $0.27.
The Clover Leaf livery stable across the street from the ZCBJ hall, will be put up for auction in a few weeks.
August 30, 1917 - reprinted April 1, 1981Rev. C.L. Zak of Howells, who is also pastor of the Clarkson Catholic congregation, received notice that he will be consigned as parson of the Howells parish only. The Reverend’s vacancy will be filled by Rev. Joseph Bata, who for a period of months officiated at the Heun church.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Zrust are rejoicing over the arrival of a baby girl.
Misses LaCora, LaRena and LaNell Heater arrived here from Anselmo, Nebr., to make preliminary preparations before school opens Sept. 1 and have rented the Jos. Rozmarin cottage where they will keep house during the life of the school year.
John Schaffer disposed of his residence property which he has just recently completed to Mrs. Anna Hajek of Stanton county. The property consists of a modern bungalow and a residence lot sold for the consideration of $4,500.
Mrs. F. Dyer returned to Omaha after spending 10 days in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Emil E. Teply.
Frank B. Kubik purchased the Clover Leaf livery stable for $870.00. The north lot on which the stable was located was sold to Lew Warner for $280.00 and the south three adjoining lots were purchased by E. H. Koza and F. C. Schultz for $750.00. The shed which neighbors the stable was sold to Schultz for $40.00 and the wooden fence sold to Frank Nemec for $61.00
A baby boy was born Sunday to Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Svitak of Howells.
Supt. Oliver, who had been in charge of the construction of the bridge south of Schuyler over the Platte River for the past 16 months, reported that his work will be finished in another week and that he would be leaving for Arizona, where he will build a similar bridge.
Miss Hedvicka Koci left for Milligan where she will teach school for the coming year.
Jos. R. Vitek, Adolph Bukacek, Alois Smejkal and Ad. Fillipi, attended a Bohemian celebration and old settlers picnic at Crete. They made the trip overland and returned home in the wee hours of the morning.
Anton Hrabak of Pittsburg, Pa., is visiting in the home of his uncle, Rev, and Mrs. B.A. Fillipi.
Frank J. Brabec is hauling out lumber to his place in Stanton county where he plans to erect a large residence and some other buildings.
Jos. Krahulik is planning on building a large residence and other necessary buildings on his farm six miles north of town, near the John Kopietz place.
Misses Antonia Polodna and Josephine Hampl of Howells made an auto trip to Clarkson.
Louis Evert, Emil Pakes and Edwin Kriz took the passenger for Omaha and returned home driving back overland three cars for Howells Motor Co.
Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Telecky are rejoicing over the arrival of a baby girl Sunday morning.