Looking back
Coates salesman was active at age 91, back in 1962
50 years ago
From the Oct. 18, 1962 edition of the
Dakota County Tribune
Commission okays Rosemount’s extended phone
The State Railroad and Warehouse Commission has authorized the Central Telephone Company to proceed with plans for extended Twin Cities telephone service for the Rosemount exchange.
Areas included are the St. Paul area, the Southeast Area and the Orchard Gardens exchange.
Monthly business rate (base) is $20, zone 1 is $22, and zone 2 is $24.50. Present rate is $7 for Rosemount alone. The monthly resident one-party area rate is $7.70, with zone 1 $9.70, and zone 2 $12.20. The present rate for residence is $4.60 (one party).
C.G. Prellwitz Central’s division commercial manager, said the plan is included in the construction budget for 1963-64, with completion date for first quarter in 1964.
Unconscious driver goes over 1/4 mile
A Rosemount driver unconscious, a pickup truck went well over 1/4 mile on Highway 3 after a rear-end collision, at 5:45 a.m. Monday, on Highway 3, two miles north of Farmington.
Making the wild ride was Albert Genz, 59, employed at Howard Simon’s farm.
When Genz “came to,” one foot was on the clutch pedal, and the other was on the accelerator. The motor was roaring “wide open.”
It all happened when the ’50 Chevrolet pickup was southbound. State patrolmen and Genz was going to turn left into the Simon driveway, and his truck was struck in the rear by a 1952 Pontiac driven by Pvt. Alvin R. Wasserman, 18, a commuting Nike soldier from Minneapolis.
The truck had $200 damage; the gasoline all running out of the punctured tank. The Nike car had $300 damage total.
Pvt. Wasserman was tagged for careless driving and will appear October 25 at Mendota Heights court. Farmington presently has no justice of the peace.
Genz escaped with a head cut, and Wasserman had lacerations inside his lips.
Traveling salesman still active at 91
There are numerous traveling salesmen, but how many are 91 years old – and still selling?
The village of Coates has one.
He is August Carl Hoffman, 91, who 18 years ago felt the urge to sell.
He had done everything from farming to operating lumber yards, and as August says, “lot of folks, especially the older ones, felt honored to have an old timer call.”
Having lived on a 400-acre farm in days when manpower was really “man” power, he had an excellent background for the job. Speaking two languages fluently also contributed to his ability.
This oldster had made quite a success of his firm, the Kussmaul Brothers of Mt. Hope, Wisconsin. Not only does he sell his corn by showing samples from a black satchel, he also has a variety of advertising novelties, such as calendars.
Hoffman, who looks more like 75 than 91, drives his own car calling on farmers in practically an unlimited territory.
A Minnesota product, Hoffman recalls his father came here in 1858, parking his ox team in Olmstead county. His father, described by Hoffman as somewhat of a politician, once shook Lincoln’s hand. Hoffman himself once clasped the famous mit of the rugged Teddy Roosevelt.
75 years ago
From the Oct. 22, 1937 edition of the
Dakota County Tribune
Harold E. Stassen is boomed for governor
The organization of the Stassen for Governor Volunteers to launch and direct a drive for the election of Harold E. Stassen. Dakota County Attorney, as Minnesota’s next governor was announced by Dr. R.C. Radabaugh of Hastings, and M.J. O’Toole of So. St. Paul, co-chairmen of the organization. The group was formed at a meeting held at Farmington attended by Dakota County citizens of all political parties....
“Harold E. Stassen is the son of pioneer Dakota County farmer parents has first hand knowledge of farm problems,” the statement continued.
“He demonstrated his understanding of the problems of agriculture when he acted as legal counsel without pay for the fluid milk committee of Dakota and adjoining counties at the time of the milk strike in 1932, and successfully handled negotiations for the peaceful adjustments of the grievances of milk producers.
Coates and Rich Valley
Miss Helen Franzmeier spent the weekend with her sister Louisa in St. Paul.
Wayside school notes
The Busy Bee Club of the Wayside School met Friday afternoon, Oct. 15. Columbus Day occurred during the week, so that was the topic selected for their program. The program included the following numbers:
1. Columbus play, 5 scenes
2. Indian song, by all
3. Poem, “Columbus,” by Louis Callahan and Ethel Mueller
4. Song, America
5. Discussion about Columbus
6. Poem, Christopher Columbus by Lucille Fox
7. Spelldown on Columbus words.
Most of the mothers and a few others attended the afternoon meeting.
We have posted on the wall a bar graph showing the averages of the 5th and 6th grades in spelling and arithmetic. So far, the 6th grade is one point higher than the 5th. We children are busy learning poems and reading stories for our literature chart. A blue strip is put in their pocket for every poem they learn, and a red slip is put in for every story they write about.
Rosemount News
Mrs. S.A. Moeller, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Uitdenbogerd and son, Glen, Billie Kohls, and Eddie Warweg spent Saturday hunting pheasants at the Roy Walters home at Waseca.
Little Joan Moeller spent the weekend with her grandparents, the Marrinans, at Lakeville.
S.A. Moeller and daughter, Hazel and Donald Cummings and Mr. and Mrs. James Connelly spent Sunday at Waseca hunting pheasants.
A party was given in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Bester’s birthday anniversary on Saturday. About 30 neighbors and friends were present. Cards and a good lunch were features of the evening.
A bazaar will be given at the emanuel Lutheran Church at Inver Grove, Friday night, Oct. 22. Everybody welcome.
The Ladies Aid of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Nicols meets at the home of Mrs. Dahlberg, Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. Everyone most cordially invited.
100 years ago
From the Oct. 18, 1912 edition of the
Dakota County Tribune
Some good potatoes
R.F. Langford, who lives on the Mrs. Hynes farm southeast of Rosemount brought a peck of Early Ohio potatoes to the Tribune office Saturday which are nice, smooth potatoes averaging about one pound each. He has out ten acres and the average yield will be about 150 bushels per acre.
Roosevelt victim of bullet
Col. Theodore Roosevelt, ex-president of the United States and leader of the Progressive party and candidate for president on the bull moose ticket, was shot by a fanatic named John Schrank as he was entering an auto in Milwaukee Monday evening.
After being wounded, the former president displayed his iron nerve in speaking for more than an hour at the auditorium. His condition is serious though not thought dangerous.
The would-be assassin had followed Col. Roosevelt all over the south and finally fired the shot that nearly killed him.
Rosemount
Henry Barger and son Frank are building a house for Adlor Delaries near Mendota.
Margaret Feelie spent Saturday at her home in Farmington.
Mrs. T. Downey was a Farmington visitor Friday.
Henry Hagemeister made a business trip to South St. Paul Friday.
Mylo Meeker of St. Paul spent Sunday visiting his cousin, Florence Gilman.
Mr. and Mrs. John Farrell of St. Paul, visited relatives and friends here.
Lizzie Henricks was a St. Paul visitor Friday.-
Ida Warweg visited friends in Farmington Sunday.
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