HITCHCOCK COUNTY – HOMETOWN HISTORY – WEEK OF OCTOBER 16, 2025
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News of 1905
The Trenton Register
120 Years Ago
Trenton News Notes
County Judge Williams issued marriage licenses, Wednesday, to the following Culbertson young people, E.B. Furrow and Bessie Cox; Horace D. Stephenson and Georgia F. Buzzell, uniting in marriage the latter couple.
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Sunday was about the most disagreeable day we have had this year. The wind blew and the dust flew from the south in the forenoon and then did the same thing from the north in the afternoon.
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A little excitement was occasioned here, last Saturday afternoon, by a team belonging to C.W. McCune, running away, hitched to a hay rack. They started for home and a short time afterwards we saw Wink driving them back to town hitched to a spring buggy.
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The oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Lindgren had the misfortune to fall through a hay rack, last Saturday, and break his right arm. Dr. O.B. Hugg was called to reduce the fracture and the young man is now getting along as well as could be expected.
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Earl Burney got mixed up in a dog fight that he was trying to part some dogs that were fighting, Tuesday morning, and got a pretty bad bite on the right foot.
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There are a whole lot of worthless dogs in this village that ought to be killed. They came near killing a cow for J.R. Boyer, last Sunday night.
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We understand that some of the boys in this village, who are not yet out of their teens, were booze fighting, last Sunday, and it seems to us that the W.C.T.U. ought to do some effective work along this line.
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A.H. French is making preparations to build an addition onto his new store building on the east side of Market Street.
Stratton Local News
The roads leading to this village are becoming very dusty, caused by so many heavy loads of grain being hauled to this market, therefore a nice shower of rain would be acceptable.
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The cold blast of winter’s uncharitableness swooped down upon us the first of the week and on Tuesday night froze quite heavy ice. Were you prepared for it and can you tell at this time what have you done with your summer wages?
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Mrs. George Huston of Freedom precinct, was in town, Wednesday, wearing a bandage over her left eye. The cause of the same being that while chopping some kindling, Tuesday, a piece flew up and struck her in the eye. She came to consult Dr. Stewart about it and we are pleased to say that the sight of the eye will not be affected, though it was a close call.
News of 1935
The Republican Leader
90 Years Ago
Victim of Auto Accident
Lilian May Riley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Riley was born July 25, 1921 at Alma and succumbed Tuesday, October 8th, 1935 from injuries suffered in an auto accident, Monday of last week, as the family were moving from Palisade to Trenton, where the father is employed on the WPA gang. They were traveling on the Sunflower highway about three miles west of Culbertson, when the car got out from under control of Walter as he fell asleep at the wheel and went into the ditch. Mrs. Riley suffered injuries and was taken to St. Catherine Hospital in McCook. Lillian, the 14 year old daughter was seriously injured and was brought to Trenton where she died a few hours later. Lillian had been attending the Palisade school for the past four years and was affiliated with the Methodist church and Sunday School. She leaves her parents, brothers, Walters, Roy, Clarence and James, three sisters, Mrs. Mildred Beachley and Mrs. Pauline Lamb of Eckley, Colorado and Doris at home. Funeral services for Lillian were held from the Otis Funeral Home at 5:30 Wednesday afternoon, the Rev. A.C. Bates officiating. W.D. Otis and George W. Hill then took the body to Republican City for burial. They were accompanied by Mr. Riley, Walter and Roy. Two sisters, Mrs. Mildred Beachley and Mrs. Pauline Lamb came from Eckley, Colorado to attend the funeral. A.A. Riley and Mrs. Clarence Purcell of Naponee, brother and sister of Mr. Riley joined them at Naponee and went with them to Republican City.
Blue Creek Clean-Up in Progress
The Bertrand Construction Company of Denver is here this week with a dragline cleaning out and widening Blue Creek from the river to the bridge leading into Legion Park. The excavation will be fifteen feet at the bottom and forty feet at the top when completed and is expected to give sufficient drainage to take care of the flood waters that may in the future, come down from the northwest. This part of the work is being done by the Village of Trenton and as soon as this is done, the Burlington will continue the work on under the railroad bridge west of town, then the county will take care of the creek from the bridge on as far as is necessary. The entire creek will be cleaned out during the fall and when this is done there should be not further fears of a flood from this source. Trenton suffered heavy losses three years ago and again last spring from high water that Blue Creek could not carry off, because of an accumulation of undergrowth, and rubbish in the bottom of the creek that nearly filled it. A portion of the WPA gang at Trenton are going ahead of the dragline, cutting and taking out the rubbish and undergrowth in the creek and the dragline following excavates the dirt. Trenton people will be vary glad to hear this job is being done, especially those whose business or home was in the path of the high water that came down from the Blue Creek in the recent floods.
Burlington Trains Routed Over New Roadbed
The two and one-quater miles of new roadbed and track built by the Burlington beyond the hills west of Trenton, during the past two months was put into regular service Wednesday afternoon, an extra stock train from Omaha being the first to go over the new track which has been built to get the right-of-way out of reach of a flood like the one experienced last May 31st when this portion of the Burlington track and roadbed were literally washed away. The new routing begin just west of the Carl Blank farm house, bends north, crossing the highway to within a short distance of the Albert Williamson farm house. It then gradually swings back, crossing the highway again and joins the old roadbed in a line with the Wm. Wedlake farm house. The track on the old roadbed will all be taken up and the telegraph lines will be moved over parallel with the new track. The routing of Highway No. 34 will be moved north of the new portion of track, work to begin on this within a few days. Whether the Burlington railroad or the State of Nebraska will be responsible for the changing of the highway, has bot yet been determined.
News of 1945
The Republican Leader
80 Years Ago
News Briefs Here and There
A hot lunch program has been instituted in the Stratton Schools, according to last week’s Stratton News. Electric stoves and other equipment has been installed in the Domestic Science Department, and Mrs. Ella Russell and Mrs. Roy Mathews are in charge of the project with the noon lunches being served at actual cost.
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The beet harvest has started in the Culbertson area. The Progress reports that the beet acreage is heavy this year, and growing conditions have been favorable, so it is expected that the total tonnage will be about the greatest on record for this territory. Geo. Frick, largest local grower, anticipates an average yield of around 15 tonnes per acre.
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Capt. Jim Ireland, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Ireland of Benkelman, former Trenton residents, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action during a heavy counter attack by the Germans in Belgium on December 30, 1944. Part of the citation reads: “During the course of heavy fighting in a wooded area northeast of Sainlez, Belgium, Capt. Ireland, commanding officer of C. G, 134th Infantry, assumed command of Company A, which had suffered numerous casualties, including its commander, after a particularly heavy enemy artillery, rocket and small arms fire, he effectively coordinated the action of the two companies, held all enemy attacks, then led both units, depleted by casualties, in an inspiring 800 yeard advance. Capt. Ireland’s dynamic leadership and coolness under fire are in accord with military tradition of the U.S.”
Fractures Vertebrae While Swimming
Lieut. Commander Stanley C. Ruopp of San Fransisco, Calif., only son of Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Ruopp, former Trenton druggist, was severely injured in a swimming accident which occurred on Sept. 15th in the Hawaiian Islands, according to information received by friends here. Stan suffered a fractured vertebrae in his neck and would have drowned had it not been for the efforts of a fellow officer, who pulled him from the water. It is uncertain at this time as to how serious the injury may prove to be but latest word received here reported that his condition had improved enough that he was being brought to the States by plane for further treatment at a Naval Hospital on the west coast. Stanley has been an officer in the Navy for nearly four years, having been in the Naval Reserve. Previous to entering the service, he was associated with an importing firm in San Fransisco, traveling extensively in the Orient in connection with his work.
Palisade Youths Paroled
Gilbert Kessler, 14, Harlan Daniels, eight, and Duane Daniels, six, all of Palisade have been before Judge W.L. Mote in County Court the past week on charges of delinquency. The youths were charged with breaking into the home of Elmer Lumkins of Palisade on September 28th, and stealing a gun, pair of boots, and other property. At an October 1st hearing, the Kessler boy was paroled to C.M. Bosley of Palisade for a period of two years. On October 8th, the two Daniel boys were before the Court and were paroled to Foster Brown of Palisade for a two-year period in that the youths must report to Judge Mote every six months during the probationary period.
New Marshal on Duty
Elbie Ungles is the new Village Marshal, assuming his duties Wednesday following a special session of the Village Board, at which his appointment was confirmed at a salary of $150 per month. Ungles, a brother of Fern Ungles, has just recently been discharged from the Army and has had special M.P. training and service. At present he and his wife are living at the Commercial Hotel.
Named as Entries in State Contest
The supervisors of the Hitchcock County Soil Conservation District have named the following county farmers as entries in the state soil conservation contest being sponsored by the Omaha-World Herald: Walter Leuch – Trenton Cloyd Hoyt – Culbertson Lorenz Melchert – Stratton. The soil conservation practices on the farms of these three men were judged by the supervisors as the best in this district. Their records will be entered in the state wide contest and the winners will be announced later.
News of 1955
The Republican Leader
70 Years Ago
Man Hurt in Fall from Train
Earnest Austin, 20, transient from Kansas City, Missouri had a rather rude awakening Tuesday evening when he fell from a moving freight and landed on the siding east of the depot in Trenton. According to Austin, he was riding on an oil car on the west bound freight and fell asleep. He fell from the car on the switch siding and landed on his head and arm. Forty-eight clamps were required to hold the head wound in place and his right arm was broken. When he recovered himself enough to move, he walked to the Ed Riley place to seek aid. He was taken to the Stratton hospital where he refused medical treatment, according to Sheriff Wayne Hovey. During the evening, he left the hospital and “borrowing” a bicycle, took off east from Stratton. He was caught by Deputy Sheriff Bob Owens of Stratton and brought to Trenton where he was confined in the county jail. He was given the necessary medical attention on Wednesday morning and his parents in Kansas City were notified and came to Trenton for him Thursday. He told the authorities that he was on his way to Denver to visit a cousin.
Is History Group Chief
Arthur Carmody of Trenton has been elected president of the Nebraska State Historical Society at the organization’s 77th annual meeting. Carmody, a former State Senator, had been first vice president. He succeeds James E. Lawrence, editor of the Lincoln Star, which had been president since 1940. J.L. Sellers of Lincoln, former second vice president, was elected to the first vice president post. Louis A. Holmes of Grand Island was chosen second vice president.
County Youths Win Scholarships
Two students from Hitchcock County are among the 20 freshman at the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis to receive $100 scholarships from the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben. They are Lyle Dunham, nephew of Mr. C.L. Troxel of Palisade and son of Mabel Peppler of McCook and Delpbert Hall, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. D. Hall of Culbertson.
River Crossing Training in Germany
Pvt. DeWayne M. Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Brown, Trenton, recently took part in river crossing exercises in southern Germany. The first troops went over in boats under a smoke screen. They were followed by infantry soldiers who crossed on a pontoon foot bridge, built under simulated combat conditions. Brown, an ammunition handler in Service Company of the 4th Infantry Divisions 22nd Regiment, entered the Army in May 1954. He completed basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. and arrived in Europe last May. He graduated from Trenton High School in 1952.
News of 1965
The Hitchcock County News
60 Years Ago
Warriors Homecoming Royalty
The Homecoming King and Queen were crowned during half-time ceremonies at the Friday night football game in Trenton. Receiving the honors were Carlene Weidner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Weidner, and Eddie Powers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Powers, all of Trenton. The King and Queen later appeared at the Homecoming Dance which was held in the Grade School Auditorium following the game. Attendants were Dan Goodenberger, Nancy Alt, Mary Vontz and Rick Terrell. The Royalty and their attendants were chosen by vote of the high school students to represent their school in this annual event. The Trenton Band are to be commended for their outstanding performance at the halftime ceremonies.
Bridal Shower
Mrs. Gary Barber and Miss Frances Cemer were hostesses Wednesday afternoon in Culbertson at a bridal shower for Mrs. Robert League. Fifteen guests were present. Mrs. League, who was married September 25, is the former Judy Hanes of Culbertson. New Pastor The Rev. and Mrs. Roger Monson and family arrived in Stratton Monday and are getting settled in the Christian Union Parsonage. The Monson’s have three children, a son who will be in kindergarten, and two small daughters.
Farm Bureau Banquet
One hundred and seventy five members and guests gave a standing ovation to Mr. Josa, their speaker for the evening at the Annual County Farm Bureau banquet in Stratton, October 7th. Mr. Josa, now residing in Denver, was a former citizen and prisoner in Czechoslovakia who escaped in 1954 to Western Germany where he worked for some time with thousands of refugees there from Eastern Europe. He gave testimony of the vicious tyranny of Communist occupation in his country. Preceding the talk, dinner prepared by the Women’s Farm Bureau Club was served on tables made colorful by autumn leaves and overflowing horns-of-plenty. Different towns of the county were represented in the program of entertainment. Nancy Korell, accompanied by Louise Cook of Culbertson, sang a solo. A piano duet was played by Karen Spencer and Linda Scott of Palisade. Ivan Groothuis of Trenton was accompanied by Henry Stecker in a vocal solo and a trumpet solo was played by Ron Reagan of Stratton. Merlin Nichols introduced different affairs peopler of the organization who gave their yearly reports.