HITCHCOCK COUNTY – HOMETOWN HISTORY – WEEK OF AUGUST 28, 2025
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News of 1905
The Trenton Register
120 Years Ago
Trenton News Notes
A nice little shower of rain came this way, Monday evening, and had the effect of laying the dust and cooling off the atmosphere for a time at least.
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J.M. Little who lives just north of town, met with an accident, last Friday afternoon, that came near costing him his life. He had started home in his wagon and was driving across the B&M crossing in the west part of town, when a light engine running backward from the west ran into him, completely demolishing the wagon and precipitating Mr. Little to the ground. In the fall his right collarbone was dislocated and he was otherwise pretty badly bruised. He was carried at once to the home of Mrs. Mary Armstrong and Dr. O.B. Hugg telephoned for, who did all that could be done to relieve his suffering. He was removed to his home in the evening and is now getting along as well as could be expected under the circumstances and for a man of his age, he being seventy-six years old. There is a difference of opinion of those who witnessed the accident, some saying that the engineer failed absolutely to whistle at the crossing while others claim that he did whistle. There is one thing certain, however, and that is that they have no right to run their engines backward over the road as it does not give the enginer the opportunity he should have to see obstacles on the track.
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T.S. Dalrymple, the paint brush artist, is painting a banner representing the dairy industry of Hitchcock County, and the same will be exhibited at McCook during the Street Fair and later at Lincoln during the State Fair. It is a fine piece of work and will attract a whole lot of attention.
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Married, at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Terrel, in Cornell precinct, their daughter, Ada, to Mr. William C. Hay, at high noon, Wednesday, August 23rd, 1905, in the presence of relatives and invited guests, Rev. J.E. Darby saying the words that bound them together for life. This happy young couple have grown to manhood and womanhood in this county where they have a host of friends who gladly join with us in wishing them nothing but happiness and success as they journey together down the path of life.
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Clayton, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Mackey, of Grant precinct, had the misfortune to fall from a pony he and his brother were riding, last Friday evening, and dislocate his left arm at the elbow, also to break a bone just above the elbow. Dr. O.B. Hugg was summoned to reduce the fracture and replace the dislocation and the little fellow is now getting along nicely.
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Frank Miller has bought the Gillaspie dray line and Trenton therefore has but one dray line. There is a good business here for one line but hardly enough for two and as long as such is the case we know of no one that we would rather see have the monopoly than Frank Miller.
Stratton Local News
Our worthy postmaster, Mrs. W.V. VanPetten, says we will have frost in just six weeks from Tuesday night, August 22nd, because she heard the Katydids singing on that night.
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While working with the Swayze threshing outfit, last Saturday morning, Pat Ryan met with a very painful accident which came near costing him his life. The facts as near as we can get at them, are that Mr. Ryan, with others, was backing the engine to couple onto the separator and after the coupling had been made the engine could not be stopped from backing and the tender began to climb upon the engine, catching Mr. Ryan between them, giving him the hardest squeeze of his life, mashing and bruising him up badly. Dr. Stewart was over in Kansas at the time, consequently his services could not be had until late in the evening and in the meantime Mr. Ryan did his share of suffering. We are pleased to say that he is getting along all right now will probably soon be able to be up and around again. Fred Bailey has purchased and taken charge of the meat market at this place and proceeds to run a first-class up-to-date market. F. Ewan, a first-class butcher, of Orleans, will assist him in the shop. We bespeak for Mr. Bailey, a liberal patronage and welcome him to our business circles. He moved to town the first of the week.
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Job Davis has a force of men at work this week erecting a large liverly barn on the lot formerly occupied by the old Kirkbride hotel, and says he will be ready for business with a first-class outfit before you know it.
News of 1935
The Republican Leader
90 Years Ago
Victim of Truck Accident
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Riley received a message Sunday afternoon that their son Jack, who was serving in a CCC camp at Preso, So. Dak., had been injured when the truck in which he and other boys of the camp were riding, skidding in loose gravel and turned over. Two of the other boys were slightly injured. Mrs. Riley began making preparations to go to Chamberlain, So. Dak., where Jack had been taken to a hospital for treatment. A phone call a short time later announced Jack’s death and Mrs. Riley did not make the trip. The family heard no more then until Monday when a message stated the body would be shipped to Trenton arriving Thursday night, August 29th. Funeral services will be conducted from St. James Catholic Church in Trenton on Friday morning at ten o’clock.
Flood Fears Again Arouse Residents
Considerable excitement was created last Saturday afternoon when the Republican River came up bank full again, in both channels south of town. Considerable fear for the safety of the small bridge north of the longer bridge was felt and twenty five or thirty WPA workers were put to work reinforcing the approaches. They worked until well into the night and kept the bridge passable all the time and repairs were made Monday. Heavy rains at Haigler and Wray brought the rise in the river at Trenton but there was not enough water to cause a great deal of damage and the river did not leave its banks except where new channels had been cut in the May 31st flood. Farther east the Republican was swelled by the waters from its tributaries in all directions, which scattered downpours had made into raging torrents, badly damaging highways and railroad track in the vicinity of Cambridge and Holbrook. The amount of rain varied in the different localities from two the seven inches. From Indianola east, the Republican River was reported to be at flood stage and at a few points was one-half mile wide. This water was practically all carried off by the river and its tributaries into Kansas without serious damage, other than to the Burlington track and some highways. All Republican River bridges in this county and west of here remained intact. Curtis was in the heavy rain district, receiving 3.75 inches and in the McCook area the rainfall reached five inches. The Medicine Creek at Curtis rose to flood stage and poured its waters into the Republican at Cambridge, flooding portions of the town and ran over the Burlington track, badly damaging three and one-half miles. This was all new track that was washed out in the May 31st flood and had been rebuilt since. At Trenton the rainfall amounted to 0.45 of an inch. Near Beverly an inch and a half fell and some portions of the country in all directions received generous amounts of moisture. Train service was at a standstill just 24 hours. No. 3 from the east was the last train over the track Saturday night and No. 3 was the first train through after repairs were made. This is the fourth flood of this season and as many times has the Burlington had to make track and bridge repairs on practically the same portions of track. It is in the flood sector near Holbrook that the Burlington tracks will be moved to a higher location in the final work of rebuilding the Burlington road bed along the Republican Valley.
News of 1945
The Republican Leader
80 Years Ago
News Briefs from Here and There
Theodore Laumann, 14 year old son of Albert Laumann of near Stratton, was serously injured last week when a cream separator exploded and the discs severed an artery in his arm. Another son, Eugene, received wounds on his chest and arm, and Mr. Laumann also received wounds about his arms and legs. Suffers Loss of Eye As the result of an injury received to his eye while cutting weeds a couple of weeks ago, Editor A.E. Cates of the Stratton News underwent an operation for the removal of the eye at Hastings last week. He returned to Stratton this weekend, and appears to making a satisfactory recovery at last report. His brother-in-law, Mr. Johns, published his paper for him last week, with some assistance by The Register editor, and Mr. Johns is also assisting in the News Office this week. Members of the newspaper fraternity in Southwest Nebraska join with Mr. Cates’ many friends in wishing him full and speedy recovery from this serious operation.
4-H Club Achievement Day
Trenton’s first peace-time 4-H Club Achievement Day, the fourth annual event, held last Thursday, provided more entertainment and drew larger crowds than any of the previous years. There was an estimated attendance of at least 1,000 people at both the afternoon and evening programs, and from all indications, everyone had a good time and thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment provided by “home talent” of the community. The afternoon program at Legion Park was opened by a parade in front of the grandstands, were led by farm workmen of the community who forsook their homes to drive tractors and trucks during the harvest season to help ease the labor shortages. Also paraded before the packed grandstand were the 21 4-H Club calves, followed by the same fifty saddle horses that were to participate in the afternoon show. There was also a Potato Race and a Small Pony race and an Egg Throwing contest participated in by several of the boys. A feature of the afternoon program was the appearance of “Tarzan” a trained stallion belonging to a Mr. Seeman living north of Indianola and a “chariot ride” made by Henry Redden behind “Blackie” a ornery steer belonging to Harry Buhler. The open air dance on the platform at the south end of the park concluded the day’s events and a large crowd enjoyed the dancing until late in the evening. This event was sponsored by the Trenton Business and professional Women’s Club with Don Schneider’s orchestra of McCook furnishing the music.
News of 1955
The Republican Leader
70 Years Ago
Three Injured in Wreck Near Culbertson
Three persons were injured in an automobile accident on Wednesday evening near Culbertson. The two cars driven by Fred B. Gale of Wayne and Charles W. Dueter of Seattle, Washington collided at the last street entrance on the west side of Culbertson that meets U.S. Highway 34. According to County Sheriff Wayne Hovey, the Deuter car had entered the highway from Culbertson when struck by the eastbound car driven by Mr. Gale. Fortunately for all concerned Mr. Gale had slowed his car considerably for the restricted speed zone and the impact was not too great. The Gale car ended up in the middle of the road facing northeast and the Deuter car in the ditch on the north side of the road. Edith Gale, wife of Fred Gale was injured to the extent of a chipped ankle bone. Esther Deuter of Culbertson had broken ribs broken clavicle and possible back injury. Mrs. Marion Deutersuffered cracked chest bone and all three suffered cuts and bruises. The drivers of the two cars were not seriously injured. According to Sheriff Hovey, the accident was reported to the McCook police radio at 7:20 Wednesday night.
Crushed By Pay Loader
Ira L. Joy, father of Wayne Joy of Trenton, was killed instantly Tuesday morning while operating a pay loader on the old Curtis highway five miles north of McCook. Mr. Joy, an employee of Red Willow County, was crushed when the pay loader slid into a ditch on top of him. Funeral services were held in McCook, Friday at 2:30pm. Survivors include his wife and six children: Mrs. Wilma Hoyt, Mrs. Iris Thompson and Mrs. Elaine Budig, of McCook, Willard Joy of Fontana, Cal., Wayne Joy of Trenton and Dean Joy of Barstow, California, 16 grandchildren and a brother, Seth, of Culbertson.
News of 1965
The Trenton Register
60 Years Ago
Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Dale W. Hidy and Shirley Hidy honored their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tracy Hidy Hidy, with an open house reception at the Trenton Church of God on Sunday, August 15, 1965 from 2:00 to 5:00 o’clock, for their 40th Wedding Anniversary. Tracy and Ruth were married on August 12, 1925 at the farm home of Ruth’s parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Ford. Present at the wedding and again Sunday at the reception were: Grandma Hidy, Mamie, Connie, Carl, Lew and Jim Hidy, Estella and Maynard Ford, Mrs. Ella Ford and her daughter, Erma, and Blanche McDowell Alt. NFO Heifer Goes to Eden Precinct Girl The Registered heifer given away by the National Farmers Organization of Hitchcock County was won by Rhonda Bardsley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bardsley, Wauneta. Rhonda is a nine year old third grader in District 40, Eden school, in northwest Hitchcock County.
County Fair Well Attended Despite Rain
The Hitchcock County Fair at Culbertson last week was well attended, despite the fact that the entire four days were cloudy and cold. A shower Thursday night and again at noon on Friday caused some changes in schedule and dampness underfoot. The exhibits this year were exceptionally good in all classes; especially in the open class display of garden produce and crops which fair officials report was the finest yet seen at a county fair.
News of 1995
The Hitchcock County News
30 Years Ago
Hosts Nearly 200 Cattle Breeders
Schroeder Cattle Company of Palisade played host to nearly 200 cattle breeders on Friday as part of a three day Composite Cattle Breeders Tour/Program. The producers coming from as far as Brazil and Ontario, Canada, arrived in Palisade to tour the company’s herd and facility. Following the tour the group gathered to discuss the action the industry is headed in genetic evaluations. A discussion was led by panelists Jim Gibb, Executive Directive of the American Gelbvieh Association. Sam Comstock, Department of Animal Science at Colorado State University, and Barry Dunn, a producer from Mission, S.D. It was agreed that the cattle industry will face many challenges, such as efficiency, profitability, and genetics, that the panel discussions held throughout the tour addressed. The producers were treated to a delicious steak supper, compliments of Schroeder Cattle Co., before heading back to North Platte for the night. Their stops included in the tour were the United States Meat Animal research Center in Clay Center and North Platte Feeders.
Places in Top 10 at Auctioneering Contest
Local auctioneer, Doug Garner, placed in the Top 10 when he competed in the Nebraska State Auctioneering Contest held in Ainsworth on August 11. Thirty-five contestants from across the state each sold three items in the first go-round while being judged on appearance, salesmanship, and bid calling. The three judges then made their determinations and called back the top 10 contestants to sell three more items to pick their champion. It was three and one-half hours of “very-tough” competition in extreme July heat. This year the judges were an auctioneer, a retired county extension agent, and a farmer. Said one judge, “This was tough competition. On any given day any one of the top 10 could have walked away with the championship.” Doug drew a pocket calculator, a wooden knicknack, and one other piece to sell in his first go-round and in the finals he drew a casserole dish, wristwatch, and an antique tin advertisement sign. The winner of the competition received a plaque and a belt buckle. The other top 10 contestants were given a marble paperweight designating them as a competition finalist. Doug hopes to be able to compete again next year and vows that he will be less nervous. Says Doug, “it’s kind of silly, I can go out knowing that I’m going to sell a half million dollars worth of cattle in an afternoon – no problem, but knowing you’re being judged makes you very nervous.” The competition was held in conjunction with the 25th annual Country Music Festival in Ainsworth.