Mazeppa Area Historical Happenings

THE MAZEPPA TRIBUNE- Published by W.G. Kingsford


Compiled by Mike Holtorf

January 3, 1906

FATAL ACCIDENT

James Hinds; a farmer residing on the Mazeppa-Zumbro Falls road was the victim of a fatal accident which took place last Friday afternoon at about 6 o’clock.  Mr. Hinds; together with P. Frank was riding out from Zumbro Falls; the former standing while driving, when reaching the turn near J.J. Springer’s place a sudden jolt of the wagon suddenly threw the driver there- from breaking his neck.  Death was almost instantaneous, he merely having time to utter the words, “Let me lay a minute,” to his partner who was attempting to raise him from the ground, before life passed away.

Mr. Hinds was between fifty and sixty years of age at the time of his death.  He was a native of Ireland, but came to America when a young man, his parents never having left their native land and worked for a number of years for George Duncan.  For twenty-five years he has lived on the farm which was his home at the time of his death.  He leaves a wife and three children, Lizzie, John and Katie.  The two daughters have been at home, but the son enjoys a lucrative railroad position in North Dakota.  Mr. Hinds was always a kind and indulgent husband and father and a pleasant accommodating neighbor, and he had but one enemy, drink.

Funeral services were held at St. Peter and Paul’s church yesterday morning at 10 o’clock conducted by Rev. Father Mueller and interment made in Catholic cemetery.  The church building would scarcely contain the large number of friends and relatives who had assembled to assist in the last and rites.

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L. Jarrett had the misfortune of severely cut one of his fingers last week Tuesday while butchering some hogs.

Fred Yotter has been duly appointed regular carrier on rural mail route number 2 with Miss Emma Yotter his sister as substitute.

J.L. Philley and family were much pleased to have as a guest last week Mr. Philley’s cousin, James Purdy of Chenago Co., York State.  Mr. Purdy’s visit came as surprise to the Philley family.

A nice new line of Ladies, Misses and children’s Fall and Winter hats at Mrs. J.P. Darcy’s.  Millinery Store now located in the LaVan building.  If you are thinking of buying don’t neglect to call and look over our Hats, they are sure to please you.

January 10, 1906  

Death of Mrs. L. Witter: Mrs. Lucille Witter, wife of James Witter, a well-known resident of South Mazeppa, died Wednesday evening after a long illness in the 73 years of her life.  Mrs. Witter had suffered for some time from a tumor and this was in all probability the cause of her death.

Mrs. Witter was one of the oldest residents of South Mazeppa.  She was married to James Witter in Wisconsin, Sept. 18th, 1850 and with her husband came to this county 35 years ago.

The deceased is survived by her husband James Witter and leaves three sons, George Witter, A.W. Witter and F.A. Witter of South Mazeppa; also three daughters, Mrs. E.S. Tupper, who resides in South Mazeppa, Mrs. Frank Wading, of Oronoco, and Mrs. Charles Postier, of near Rochester, Minn., also eight great grand children.

    Death of Little Child:   At 11 o’clock, Wednesday morning, Hugh, the five month old son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Darcy, died after an illness of a few hours duration, the cause of death being inflammation of the bowels.

New Bridge Over Zumbro: The County Commissioners, Messrs. P. Lamprecht, Thomas Kiley, S.A. Kennedy, C.C. McDonough and J.C. Smith arrived in Mazeppa Thursday.

They were here to consider building a new bridge over the Zumbro River, at a point three and one half miles from Mazeppa.

The commissioners visited the location of the proposed bridge, Thursday afternoon; and after due deliberation, decided that the bridge should be constructed.  The new bridge is to be a steel structure with a 70 foot span, and will have two approaches, one with 10 feet and one of 14 feet.

The commissioners had intended, after viewing the bridge location, to catch their train for Wabasha at Bright’s and had arranged with the conductor stop for them that point.

At the time they left Mazeppa, they informed by Mr. Kingsley that the train was three hours and twenty minutes late.  However they missed the train, not reaching Bright’s in time, and were guests at the Anderson Hotel until Friday afternoon.

The proposed bridge will be a credit to the township, and the commissioners deserve great praise for their promptness in taking measures to have it built.  (Black Bridge)

TOWN TALK:  Born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Arnold, on Friday, a boy.

Michael Leonard of Millville, Minn. Spent Monday night in Mazeppa.

Mr. and Mrs. A.L. McCray attended the funeral of Mrs. McCray’s grandmother, Mrs. Witter in South Mazeppa on Friday forenoon last.

Thos. Mongan, J. Halloway, Frank Ross and A. Gorman arrived at Lena, Wednesday night, after a visit to the Twin Cities and Red Wing and as the bus was not at the station, they started to walk to Mazeppa.  They found it impossible to make much progress, owing to the storm and drift obstructed roads, and stopped at the farmhouse of Frank Yohannknecht where they remained over night coming to town the next morning by team.

The 2:20 train from Zumbrota encountered some heavy snow drifts, Friday afternoon, at a curve about three-fourths of a mile from town.  The snow was so deep that the locomotive left the rails when the pilot struck the drifts and with great difficulty the train crew managed to get the engine back upon the track to finish the run to the depot.

For three days last week, Thursday, Friday and Saturday the rural mail carriers out of Mazeppa failed to make their accustomed trips.  On Thursday they never left the office at all and on the other two days they went but a short distance when they were compelled to return.

Anderson had to abandon his trip to Lena on Friday night as the roads were impassable.  If Anderson can’t get through no one can.