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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September 6, 1923 - reprinted February 15, 1995

While going to Norfolk last evening Miss Genevieve Griffin accompanied by her mother, her cousin Leola Griffin and little Billy Bauer ran into the hail storm which struck about five miles this side of Norfolk and their Overland sedan was badly battered up.
    Miss Genevieve saw the storm approaching and attempted to reach Norfolk before it struck, but when about four or five miles south on the Meridian highway the storm struck them in all its fury, breaking nearly all the win­dows in the sedan, the flying glass cutting a gash in the forehead of Mrs. Scheler and another piece cutting a hole in the throat of little Billy, just under the chin.
    Fearing further injury they got out of the sedan on the east side and covering their heads with coats waited for the storm to pass.
    They were forced to stop in the middle of the road because of water in the engine. While standing in the road, telephones poles on the side of the road where they were standing, were blown over, some of them hitting the highway only a few feet from their car.
    After the storm was over they went to a nearby farm house and had their car pulled into Norfolk.
    An examination showed that besides all of the glass in the windows being broken, a stone had passed through the top of the car, the fenders were badly dented and one stone made a large hole in the metal work near one fender. -Madison Star Mail

Two weeks ago the Banner published a letter written to Elmer Johnson from Colorado and signed by Robert E. Graham, complimenting Mr. Johnson on the goods he sold.
    This same young man had given Mr. Johnson a forged check in payment of goods just before leaving here, and in writing to Johnson he ended his letter by saying, "stolen sweets are always the sweetest, are always the sweet­est, so maybe gloves bought on forged checks are the best to wear."
    This letter was his undoing. Sheriff Roberts notified the Colo­rado authorities and the young man was arrested and brought back to David City where he was given a sentence of three years in the penitentiary and fined S150.00 by District Judge L. S. Hastings. Graham had just finished a term in the Colorado reformatory of nine months on a charge of stealing. As there is no room in the peniten-tiary at present he is being con­fined in the county jail under the care of Sheriffs Roberts. -David City Banner

Last evening we had the occa­sion to visit Anton DeGrot's big melon farm north of Madison and were certainly amazed to see the enormous crop.
    Melons of all varieties were seen all over the yard - a regular market place - with autos coming and going in numberless quanti­ties.
    That day Mr. DeGrot disposed of about 1000 melons and since the opening of the season has been selling from 600 to 1000 mel­ons every week.
    He also sold a big truck load of fine juicy melons which were taken to the Lincoln fair.
    On September 23, Mr. DeGrot will hold his annual Free Melon Feast. This event will mark the opening of his "Irish Gray" melon patch.
    He promises to have ready for the feast the largest pile of mel­ons ever seen by any one. In the meantime if you want to lay in a supply of real good melons, visit DeGrot, the melon man, four miles north of Madison.

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September 8, 1923 - reprinted June 28, 1995

Clarkson School News
    Senior Class Roll: Lillian Bukacek, Elinor Noh, Frank Cinfel, Ethel Petr, Edward Fillip, Helen Pokorny, Mildred Fillip, Rose Prazak, Adela Franek, Emily Swoboda, Elizabeth Gross, Josephine Swoboda, Frances Gross, Stanley Swoboda, Agnes Jura, Martha Smejkal, Richard Jirovec, Lawarence Tcply.
    Senior Officers: Sponsors, Mrs. McCarty; President, Stanley Swoboda: Vice Pres., Lillian Bukacek; Sec'y-Treas., Lawrence Teply; Editors, Helene Pokorny, and Adela Franek; Pianists, Rose Prazak and Elinor Noh.
    Junior Officers: Sponsors, Miss Meyer; President, Rudolph Severa; Vice Pres., Adolph Dudycha; Sec'y-Treas., Phillip Smejkal; Editor, Stanley Novotny, Pianists, Julia Prazak and Laura Tomes.
    Sophomore Officers: Sponsors, Miss Hall; President, Martha Markytan, Sec'y-Treas., Reynold Pimper, Editor, Alice Wacha; Pianists, Alice Fillipi and Alma Karel.
    Freshman Officers: Sponsors, Miss Dunham, President, Lambery Jirovec, Sec'y, William Hobza, Treas., Martha Bos.
    Junior Class Roll: Henry Balzer, Stanley Novotny, Frank Benes, Steven Novotny, Harold Chleboun, Lillian Pospichal, Adolph Dudycha, Mary Pavel, Frances Fajman, Julia Prazak, Loretta Faltys, Louis Psotta, Gerald Gross, Libbie Svehla, Rudolph Hamsa, Martha Sedlacek, John Hamernik, Rudolph Severa, Edna Indra, Phillip Smejka, Helen Jirovec, Lucy Swoboda, Vlasta Krofta, Archie Schultz, Mary Karel, Laura Tomes, Victor Kudrna, Frank Tomes, Elmer Makosvsky, Joe D. Novotny, Libbie Zak.
    Flag Committee for September: Stanley Novotny, Chairman, Helen Pokorny, Adolph Kafka.

Henry Busch, sr., and daughter, Lena, of Howells, were Clarkson visitors yesterday.

V.J. Chleboun is at Omaha since Monday, having been called down on important business.

John Markytan and family spent Sunday with David City friends.

The editors arc indebted to Mrs. Rudolph Hamsa for her thoughtfulness in remembering us with a large basket of fine home-grown plums. 'Tis needless to say that Mrs. Hamsa's generosity was highly appreciated.

Car Sales
    Fayman-Vacin Auto Co. report the sale of five second-hand automobiles for the past week, they sold used Fords to James H. Kuchery, Joseph V. Urban, Joseph Palas and John Wavrin, Clarkson, and a used Dodge touring car to Jerry Kovar of Dodge. Last Saturday J.L. Vacin drove up one of the new style Ford coupes from Omaha. It is a beauty and must be seen to be appreciated.

The house on the old Walker farm owned by Frank Chaplin, near Dublin, was completed [sic] destroyed by fire about seven o'clock that evening. The fire was caused by a defective flue.
    The house was valued at $4,000 and was insured for $1,500. Frank Kunneman who farms the Chaplin farm, lost about $250 worth of his household goods.
    All goods on the first floor were saved.

Superintendent R. T. Fosnot, last week purchased the Anton Havorka residence in the second ward, in Schuyler, the purchase price being $4,900. Possession will be given October 1. Joseph Faltys this week, through the George Gerrard agency purchased the Mrs. Stanley Kracl residence in the south part of Schuyler, Hoops addition.
    The property transfer called for $3,900. The residence is now occupied by Mrs. J. E. Sobota and family.

A little son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kubat at the Kolouch hospital in Schuyler.

An auto accident occurred Wednesday afternoon about four-thirty on the Lincoln highway about five miles west of Schuyler, near the Joseph R. Cech farm, completely demolishing a new Buick touring car driven by Henry F. Jess of St. Paul.
    According to the statement of some men who were working in nearby fields, there were two auto westward bound, racing.
    One of the wheels came off the Buick causing it to turn over twice and land in the ditch beside the road. Mr. Jess and a young lady about seventeen years of age were the only persons in the car.
    They were both thrown from the car and badly shaken up. An ambulance was called from Co­lumbus and two occupants of the car were taken to that city. The extent of their injuries were not determined as the two were not inclined to talk, especially the young lady in reference to her indentity.

Egon Stangel and his family had a narrow escape from death last Sunday when their Ford se­dan went into a creek southeast of Dodge, near the old picnic grounds. The Stangel family was enroute to Scribner and just be­fore making the turn east of the Linderfield grove, Egon noticed a speeding auto coming toward him and in order to give the autoist enough road he turned his sedan to the roadside, not noticing a deep ravine on account of tall weeds. The sedan went down the bank about fifteen feet where it was stopped by a post.
    This sudden stop consider­ably damaged the right side of the sedan.
    Luckily, none of the occupants were seriously injured. Mrs. Stangel was the only one to suffer a few bruises from the broken glass. This is only one of the many accidents caused by "road hogs' who think the highways were built only for them and it is about time that some are pros­ecuted.
    A similar accident occurred Monday near Richland when a tourist was forced into a ditch by speeding car. It is really unsafe for a sane motorist to get out on the highway these day.

Dr. Hebenstriet, of Howells, is the proud owner of a brand new Maxwell coupe purchased through L. J. Evert, salesman for the Fajman Motor Co. of Clarkson. The doctor's business is increas­ing to such proportions that he found it absolutely necessary to invest in a new car to be of even better service to the people in and around Howells.

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September 8, 1923 - reprinted July 5, 1995

The funeral of Mrs. Rudolph Jaroska of whose sudden demise we made mention last week was held on Sunday forenoon in the presence of a large gathering of friends and relatives. The remains were laid to rest into the Boh. Sov. cemetery west of Clarkson after an impressive eulogy delivered at the opera house by Rev. Filipi.
    Mrs. Jaroska was born in the land of Bohemia on the 8th day of August 1901, and was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. D. Teply, formerly of this locality but now of Boone county.
    On the 18th day of June this year she became the wife of Rudolph Jaroska of Stanton county, the happy union having heen disrupted by the Grim Reaper after but a short duration. Mrs. Jaroska besides her husband and parents is survived by two sisters and four brothers.

Henry Selhorst is laid up with rheumatism. Dr. Hebenstriet is looking after his comfort.

One of the first actual farm sales occuring in this community for some time was made this week when James A. Drahota sold the 160-acre farm he owned south of Dodge to Diedrich Vahle at $ 150.00 per acre.
    It is a good place and will add another good farm to the already large land holdings of Mr. Vahle.
    The farm will be occupied next spring by Chas. Konopasck and wife. Mrs. Konopasek is a daugh­ter of Mr. Vahle.

Marie Drahota, Adella Dvorak, Helen Konsel, Sophie Prusa, Elenore Rysavy, Anna Karel, Frank Brichacek, John Konsel, Ed. Dvorak, Emil Gruntorad and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Drahota returned where they attended the big Sokol celebration.

Jake Bayer of Boone county spent several days this week vis­iting relatives in the vicinity of Howells.

Yesterday morning, Tom, the four-year-old son of Thos. Nadrchal, underwent an operation for tonsils and adenoids at the hands of Dr. Myers.

J. J. Sindelar, jr., and family, Mrs. J. J. Sindelar, sr., Mr. and Mrs. Louis Evert, Emil Sindelar and Mrs. Frank Pakes, of Howells motored to Omaha Sunday where they spent the day visiting.
    Mrs. J.J. Sindelar, sr., remained in the city to attend the conven­tion of the Catholic Ladies order as delegate from the local lodge.

A baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Wiemann last Fri­day. On Saturday a baby girl ar­rived at the Frank E. Beran home. Dr. Myers, of Howells having had charge of both cases.

Monday being a legal holiday a good many of Howells citizens took advantage of the day and accompanied the band and the ball team to Schuyler where a big Labor Day celebration was held under the auspices of the Ameri­can Legion. The ball team scored another victory, having defeated the Schuyler team by a score of 9 to 5.

Mrs. Louis Cada of Midland is again confined to her bed with illness. Her condition is said to be very grave owing to the fact that she had not completely recovered from her recent confinement.

James Krofta and little daugh­ter, Lilly, spent the week-end in Omaha.

Miss Justina Urban left on Saturday for a few days' visit with relatives at Crete.

An item we failed to report last week was the return of Stanley Svoboda from an extended visit with his sister, Mrs. Chas. Kutin, of Traer, Iowa. Stanley speaks of having had a pleasant visit.

Mrs. Frank Rozmarin, sr., and daughter, Adellla, departed on Monday for Columbus where they took the train for California. They will join the Joe and Edward Rozmarin and Jos. Budin families with the intention of making their future home in the golden state.

George Engel and his family of Lindsay were seen on the Clarkson streets forenoon.

The four-year-old son of Mr and Mrs. John Kratochvil of Clarkson submitted to an opera­tion for appendictis [sic] at the hands of Drs. Kavan and Kolouch. For a while the chap's condition was considered very serious, however, all danger has abated by this time and hopes are entertained for a speedy recovery.

John Pospichal returned from the James Kasik farm south of Leigh the other day where he moved the old dwelling structure to a different location.

Gilbert Srb and his sister, Ardath, who have been visitors at the Kovar and Srb homes in Howells, returned this week to their home, Gilbert to Omaha, where he is attending a medical college, and Miss Ardath to Lin­coln to attend the university.

Alois Pimper of Howells, took Ben Brester to Columbus where the latter underwent an operation for appendicitis yesterday. They were accompanied by Mr. Brester's father and brother, Louis.

Dr. and Mrs. J. Giever and two children of Spalding, Nebraska were guests at the Dr. Hebenstriet home of Howells, from Thursday until Monday.

A.H. Mestl, F.C. Hrabak and Jos. J. Hajek motored to Lindsay last Monday. The latter remained on the farm owned by Messrs. Mestl and Hrabak, to look after various improvements.

Mrs. A. H. Mestl and son, Randoph, are spending a few days with relatives at Central City. Mrs. Frank Sebek accompa­nied them on the trip, going as far as Ord.

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September 13, 1923 - reprinted February 22, 1995

When it comes to winning prizes at fairs, it takes Nathan Moore to do it. Nathan is becom­ing a poultry fancier and having a flock of fine fowls, he took a pair of Black Minecoras and a pair of Black Langshans to the Colfax county fair at Leigh and the re­sults were that he captured the sweepstakes - four first prizes for pullets and cockerels.
    This is an exceptionally good record for our young friend who has started in raising thorough­bred poultry just last spring.
    His father, W.J. Moore, had Moscovy ducks at the fair and carried off the second prize. Not so bad for beginners.

The Lucky Bill Shows which played in Clarkson several weeks ago are certainly having a streak of ill luck in moving their menagery from town to town.
    While leaving Humphrey a short time ago they experienced a mishap when one of their animal wagons slid off the road into a ditch and now another accident is reported to have befell them near Barneston.
    In the rough country of south­ern Pawnee county the drivers lost their way and two of the heavy trucks conveying the animals up­set on a steephill, the cages of the lion and the bear rolling off the wagons and down the grade for several yards, lodging against trees.
    The cages stood the strain and the animals did not escape, but were badly bruised. Two horses and two cowboys were also in­jured.

A serious automobile collision took place on the main intersec­tion in the northeast part of Clarkson one evening a little be­fore the hour of six. Frank P. Belina and his sons, Lada and Emil, and W.C. Stangel, of Howells, were passing through town on their way home from Leigh where they spent the day at the fair and when nearing the cross­road on the east edge of Clarkson they collided with a large Nash sedan belonging to Jos. Nemec of near Clarkson.
    Mr. Nemec and his family were coming to town from the north after a visit at the Jos. Vesely home and did not notice the ap­proaching automobile from the west.
    Owing to an obstruction of the road neither one of the drivers realized the danger until but a few feet apart and it was then too late to avert the crash.
    The Belina car which was a Buick Six struck the rear of Mr. Nemec's sedan with sufficient force to cause the heavy car to tip over. One of the hind wheels was also smashed by the impact. The Buick came out of the collision with a badly disfigured front and the occupants of both cars with the exception of the Nemec boys who received a bad contusion on the forehead caused by the glass from a broken window escaped injury.
    There were six passengers in the Nemec sedan at the time of the accident. The damage on both vehicles will run into a goodly sum of money.

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September 20, 1923 - reprinted February 22, 1995

Trying to cross the tracks in an automobile ahead of a fast pas­senger train resulted in slight in­juries to two people and extensive damage to their car at the Union Pacific crossing at Richland last week.
    Only the fact that the machine was not squarely on the track pre­vented a fatal smashup.
    As often happens in such cases, the motor "died" just as the front end of the automobile reached the edge of the tract [sic] in time to catch a powerful impact from the engine pulling Union Pacific train No. 15, westbound.
    The accident occurred about 6:15 p.m. at the point where the Lincoln highway crosses the tracks just west of Richland pas­senger station.
    There were four people in the party on their way from Ord, Ne­braska, to Peoria, Illinois. The driver of the car, John Readle, Peoria, suffered badly bruised arms and legs when the car turned over at the side of the track.
    His sister suffered bruises about the back and legs. Two other people, niece and brother of Readle, jumped before the blow came and escaped uninjured.

Everything was set for the big day at Heun last week, but instead of the expected fair weather, the morning found the weatherman drenching the earth.
    Last year the aviators failed to appear at the tournament, but this time two planes arrived from Lin­coln and made an advertised trip to Dodge, Howells, Clarkson, Leigh and Schuyler to show the people that they are on hand and ready for the exhibition flight.
    A. M. Dobry, one of the pro­moters of the tournament accom­panied the aviators in their flight over the country. On account of the big expense connected with an undertaking of this kind, the promoters took out insurance for the amount of $400.
    The premium paid was $12.50 per hundred and the policy be­came due when one tenth of an inch of rain fell.
    The company placed a gauge at Heun for this purpose and we understand that the promoters collected insurance money with­out any trouble. Both of the planes remain at Heun until Mon­day afternoon when they returned to Lincoln.

A large number of friends, mostly members of the Clarkson Catholic parish, gathered in the opera house basement, where they entertained Father C.Z. Petlach at a farewell party, the reverend gentleman having left the next morning for a prolonged visit in his native land, Czecho­slovakia. He expects to be gone for at least ten weeks and will spend most of the time with his aged mother whom he has not seen for many years.
    While there he will also visit other European countries and places of interest.
    He leaves New York, and will sail with the S.S. President Harding or the Majestic. The pulpit at the local church during his absence will be filled by neigh­boring clergymen.
    We wish Father Petlach a most pleasant voyage and hope to see him again by the end of Novem­ber.