Mazeppa Area Historical Happenings

THE MAZEPPA TRIBUNE- Phillips Publishing Co.
Compiled by Mike Holtorf

Wednesday-May 15, 1895:

DEATH OF MRS. J.E. HYDE-Occurred at Her Home in this Village Last Sunday at Midnight.

Deceased Was One of the Most Highly Esteemed Early Settlers.

Mrs. John E. Hyde, one of the very early settlers of this village, died quietly last Sunday night at about midnight, aged 75 years 3 months and 1 day.  She had suffered for thirteen years with pulmonary catarrh and many times during her long illness her life was despaired of.

Mrs. Hyde was among the most highly esteemed ladies of the village and was loved by all who bore her acquaintance.

Miss Sarah Stowell of Paris Maine was born Feb. 11, 1822 and married John E. Hyde in 1842.

It was in the spring of 1855 that Mr. Hyde started for St. Paul but was induce to locate at Mazeppa instead. Mr. and Mrs. Hyde embarked in the mercantile business. This he continued until 1872, when he was succeeded by the firm of E.L. Ford & Co.  Mr. Hyde died in 1889 and they were blessed with nine children.

As one of the early settlers of this village, Mrs. Hyde underwent many hardships and privations which none but those who were her neighbors can attest.  The efforts of herself and husband were always bent toward the up-building of the village.  As the pioneer merchants of Mazeppa they will still be remembered by a great many of the older residents of the county and the demise of Mrs. Hyde will be to them like the sweeping away of an old and familiar land mark.

Wednesday, May 22, 1895:

Anderson Bros shipped 12 carloads of stock to Chicago last Saturday, seven carloads of which were purchase at this point and Zumbrota.

Landlord Mongan has been grading up the property along the south side of the Fowler house (W.D’s) and says he is going to have a handsome lawn there this summer.  That’s all Tom’s popular hostelry lacks to make it the greatest Summer resort of this corner of the state.

Wednesday, May 29, 1895:

Gottleib Scheffler of South Mazeppa aged 79 years and 2 months, died Monday night of congestion of the lungs.  Mr. Scheffler was the father of six children, three boys and three girls.  Of the former Julius and Gottleib, who reside in South Mazeppa, are well known throughout this section, while the third son resided some distance away. His daughters are at present living in Roscoe, Potsdam, and Elgin.

The Fowler House bus was relieved of its top yesterday afternoon by a heavy gale of wind.  Ira says he doesn’t enjoy riding in the sun. Tom Mongan provided a “taxi service” between his hotel and Lena.

The marriage of Mr. John Hart and Miss Kate Befort, two of Belle Chester’s prominent young people, has been announced to take place on June 11.  They will be supported by Mr. Mathew Hart and Miss Kate Befort with the knot being tied by Rev. Fr. Limberg.  Mr. Hart is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hart and ranks among the foremost young men in the township of Chester, while the bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Befort Sr.

Mrs. Jacob Sheldon and son, Adelbert Sheldon, visited Rochester Saturday, the former returning home Monday, while the latter will remain at St. Mary’s hospital for treatment by Dr. Adams for nervous prostration.  Mr. Sheldon is in the convalescent ward and the doctors have hopes of his speedy recovery now that he is under their direct supervision.

John Goodman of South Troy was a pleasant caller at THE TRIBUNE office last Saturday. On being asked about the wrestling match between himself and Mr. Watts, he stated that he would like to meet his gentleman and was endeavoring to complete arrangements for a match to take place in the village in the near future.  The sporting fraternity of Mazeppa is anxious to see those two gentlemen meet and there is no question but that a match will be made.

Wednesday, June 12, 1895:

IT WAS A DRAW.  The Goodman-Watts Wrestling Match Still Unsettled.

Although considerable talk has been indulge in about wrestling of late the first genuine  touch Mazeppa has had of any real wrestling occurred at Sullivan’s hall (Degner building-empty lot now)- last Saturday evening , when John Goodman and Will Watt’s met for $10 a side and a division of the hall receipts.

Dr. M. H. Cremer, Sam Owens and Wm. D. Pencille were chosen judges and at 9 o’clock the contest was called. After twenty minutes of hard wrestling a rest about 5 minutes of minutes was taken. At 9:25 they renewed the contest and continued until 10:15, neither securing a fall, and the decision of “draw” was rendered by the judges. The men then agreed to meet in the same hall on Saturday evening, June 22, without admission charges, and endeavor to settle the question as to their superiority on the carpet.

Both had friends present at the contest Saturday evening who are of course more than ever impressed with the prowess of their man and the coming match will be awaited with interest. No ill feeling was aroused over the meeting, a fact which THE TRIBUNE notes with pleasure.