Mazeppa Area Historical Happenings

Compiled by Mike Holtorf

The Mazeppa Tribune, Published by W.G. Kingsford

October 21, 1903

Obituaries: 

Marie Riede: This week it becomes The Tribune’s sad duty to chronicle the death of Miss Marie Riede, one of Mazeppa’s most charming and popular young ladies which took place last Thursday evening at the home of her mother, Mrs. Paulina Riede.  Miss Riede was sick for two weeks during which time she gradually decline until final and permanent relief came.  She like others was first stricken with scarlet fever, more seriously than most however. She was recovering from this when other complications, such as inflammation of the brain, pneumonia, peritonitis and kidney trouble set in.  All medical assistance and a trained nurse could to was done but all to no avail.

Miss Marie Paulina Riede was born on June 9, 1885, thus being 18 yr. 4 mo’s 7 days old at the time of her death.  At the time of her birth her parents resided on the Riede farm (Denny & Marilyn O’Brien’s) in Zumbrota Township.  There Marie always dwell until she and her mother and sisters moved to Mazeppa shortly after the death of Mr. Riede.

Willie Gillespie:  Willie, the eight months’ old baby of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gillespie of Oronoco was called suddenly to his eternal home last Wednesday as the result of bowel trouble.

Lizzie Tri:   The ten months old baby of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Tri died last Tuesday of lung fever. Services were held at St. Peter and Paul’s church of Mazeppa and interment made in the catholic cemetery.

Town Talk:

August Goetsch has about completed the large new residence has been erecting on his farm.

Henry Seibert is drawing out from the Ford Lumber Co’s yards the material whereby he is to erect this fall a large new barn on his farm

Theo. Stecher came down from Zumbrota Saturday after two monstrous loads of Mazeppa flour.  Mr. Stecher says that the Mazeppa leads all other brands in sales in Zumbrota by a wide margin and that there is much more of it being used there now than ever before.

Last Thursday afternoon, the quietness of the streets of Mazeppa was disturbed by an altercation between George Shear and Ole Olson, resulting in the arrest of George Shear for fighting on the street and Ole Olson for carrying a concealed weapon.  They each plead guilty to the charge and paid their fine.

Mason, Olson & Englehart has ceased to be the name of the firm operating the Mazeppa Roller Milles, the same having been changed to Mason, Olson, & Maas.  Theo. Maas having purchased the interest of P. Englehart.  The two gentlemen kept their transaction to themselves for some time, but at last it has been made public.  There is to be no change in the management of the mill it remaining on hands of Maas, Mason & Olson, who will continue to manufacture of the same high grades of flour as they have here before done.

The village of Hammond is to have a new opera house.  The structure will be 40 x 80 ft. with a seating capacity of 600.

October 28th, 1903

Obituary:

Mrs. Lambert Schafer: Miss Bembardina Weinman was born in Wurtenburge, Germany in 1847.  In 1872 she migrated to America coming directly to Belvidere.  In 1874 she was married to Mr. Schafer.  She was the mother of eight living children, five boys and three girls, all of whom live at home with exception of the two oldest, Albert and Frank, who recently moved to Dennison.

Married:

On Thursday afternoon of last week the German Lutheran church of Belvidere was the scene of a very pretty wedding in which Henry Wick, Jr. and Miss Lena Popka were the principal participants.  The groom is being one of the most promising of young farmers and his wife the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Popka is a very accomplished young lady.

Town Talk:

Louie Klingspon was over from Pine Island last Thursday after a load of Mazeppa flour.  Louis says no flour tastes quite so good to him as the Mazeppa flour.

John Peshek has again opened up a tin shop in Mazeppa, in the Hilger building occupied by E. Wiggenton while his regular building was undergoing repairs.

A stone crossing has been placed across Main Street from Kingsley’s drug store to the post office.  This will prove to be a great convenience to those located on the west side of the street and will prevent many a muddy foot.

As The Tribune goes to press Fred Busse Sr. is lingering between life and death as the result of an accident which happened yesterday morning.  As Mr. Busse was driving into town with an extra large load of wheat he together with a sack of wheat slipped from the top of the load down between the horses heels and the front wheel. Both the front and rear wheel passed directly over his chest, breaking four of his ribs and crushing several others besides injuring otherwise.  The sack of wheat only prevented instant death.  Mr. Busse lies at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Nic. Hertzig near whose place the accident happened, under the care of Dr.s Deters and McGuigan.

November 4th, 1903

L. Larson has begun the erection of a good- sized barn on his farm in south Mazeppa.

It becomes The Tribune’s pleasant privilege to announce this week that F. Busse’s accident did not prove to be quite as serious as was predicted last week and now has a good chance or recovery.  The accident was serious enough however, Mr. Busse has been in almost continuous  and severe pain ever since the accident happened and his family and friends have worried not a little over his condition. And recovery if it comes at all will come only after a long and careful nursing and the best of medical care. Drs. Deters and McGuigan are both still attending to him.

P. Megears purchase the Mrs. Hall property across the river several weeks ago and on Saturday last moved his family and household effects therein.  Mr. Megears expects to remodel the house next season and make a handsome residence out of it.

Geo. Krinke who has been clerking for M. J. Rucker for the past two months resigned his position last Saturday.  George intends to run the engine in his father’s sawmill.  (Anyone with knowledge on where this was located or who George was?)