Adams County, Ritzville, WA ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sue Gardner sueboo18@hotmail.com ==================================================================== Adams County News, April 1, 1903, issue Thom The aged and invalid mother of Wm. Thom, a German new comer who is now the owner of the Daniel Buchanan farm, died at the home Sunday and was buried yesterday afternoon, interment occuring at the Spanjer Cemetery. Rev. Gottlieb Scheuerle officiated in the final ceremonies in consigning the remains to their last earthly resting place. Adams County News, April 8, 1903, issue M. Cochran M. Cochran who was taken from this county to the insane asylum at Medical Lake about five years ago died at the institution yesterday. Deceased was a brother of M. F. Cochran the well driller. Hazel Elsie Willis Hazel Elsie Willis died April 2, 1903, aged 4 years and 1 month of pneumonia, after a week's illness. Schsah Fay Willis, August 17, 1902, aged 5 years and 2 months. A memorial service was held in connection with the funeral at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Willis, April 4th, 10:30 a.m. They were dear little girls at the attractive age which takes full possession of the heart's affections, and when hope and expectation begins to build its plans for the future of their lives. It is indeed a heavy blow to the stricken parents, and God's help and comfort are alone sufficient to comfort them. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. E. P. Lyon. Adams County News, April 22, 1903, issue Adolph Bianckmann Adolph Bianckmann, aged stepfather of Mrs. Klaas Schnell, died at the home of Wm. Spanjer, on East College Hill this morning at 6 o'clock. Deceased was in his 82nd year and death was principally due to old age. Interment in Ritzville cemetery tomorrow at 2 p.m. Funeral services at German Congregtional church. Richard Hartwig Richard Hartwig, eighteen year old son of Dr. Hartwig died at Walla Walla yesterday at 4 o'clock p.m., the result of an operation for appendicitis performed the day before. The young man has been employed in the mercantile store of Hans Thomsen and was one of the politest and gentlemanly clerks, and will be missed by the young people of the city. The order of Good Templars of this place, of which deceased was a member, have taken steps to assist in the funeral. Fred Whitenack Fred Whitenack, residing near Athol, Idaho, on Thursday last while temporarily insane, drove his wife from the house and setting fire to all the buildings on the place which were consumed, fled to the woods, his dead body being found the next day where he had committed suicide by shooting himself. The fire destroyed considerable farm machinery, a large quantity of hay and grain, $100 in money, the household goods and utensils. Mrs. Whitenack was formerly Mrs. W. E. Williams, a milliner of this place, and her husband was a merchant, their establishment being conducted in the Blackmer building now occupied as the Van Buren Cafe. Mrs. Lawrence, aged mother of Mrs. Whitenack, barely escaped the flames with her life. Adams County News, April 29, 1903, issue Myrtle Shoafstall DIED- At the residence of her parents in the western part of the county, Miss Myrtle, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Shoafstall, aged 21 years. Lung trouble was the cause of death. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Fertig from the M. E. church at 10 a.m., Thursday, April 30. Adams County News, May 13, 1903, issue Laid in the Tomb Blanckmann - At the residence of her son, ex-County Commissioner William Spanjer, on East College hill, Wednesday night, May 6, 1903, at 10:30 Mrs. Elska Blanckmann, aged 86 years, passed into everlasting silence. Mrs. Klaus Schnell of this city and Fokke G. Spanjer of Marshfield, Wis., are the two other surviving children. Her husband passed away two weeks ago, both failing with advanced age. Deceased couple were honored members of the German Lutheran church. The burial took place Friday afternoon in the little cemetery lying half a mile west, in plain view of the town. Sutton SUTTON-May 6, 1903, at the residence of his brother, Dr. Levi L. Sutton, near Hatton, J. B. Sutton, aged 84 years, of heart failure. The deceased, accompanied by his faithful wife, left their home at Lapier, Mich., and went to California, coming last Thursday to Adams county with Dr. Sutton, who was visiting at Los Angeles. Byron L. Sutton passed through Saturday on his way east with the remains. Adams County News, May 20, 1903, issue Mrs. Henry Kanzler Mrs. Henry Kanzler, aged mother of John and Geo. H. Kanzler, died Sunday morning at the home in the north part of the city. Deceased was in her 80th year and cause of death was principally due to old age. She was a life long church member and was identified with the German Congregational denomination, the funeral services being held in that place of worship on Monday afternoon, conducted by the pastor, followed by interment in Ritzville cemetery. Adams County News, May 27, 1903, issue Death of Daniel Buchanan A wave of genuine sorrow and regret swept over our little city Sunday morning when the intelligence was spread that Hon. Daniel Buchanan, our pioneer and prominent resident, had answered the roll call of death shortly before midnight. About a month ago the deceased was taken suddenly ill with what appeared to be a breaking down of the nervous system. Continuing to decline until there seemed to be little hope for recovery, the entire family was speedily summoned. At the end of two weeks he rallied and when apparently out of danger the sons and daughters, with the exception of John Buchanan, of Rio, Wisconsin, returned to their homes. Saturday morning Dr. John M. Adams announced that the end was nearing and would occur within forty-eight hours. The subject of this sketch was born in Glasgow, Scotland, February 25, 1820, and was therefore in his 84th year. A day or so before his last sickness he remarked to the writer that his work was done-that he was very, very tired and longed for rest. There are not many words to say. All may be summed up in the statement that a noble man has been called from his labors. Such men are indeed missed and sincerely mourned. Mr. Buchanan was a man of commanding presence, magnetic personality, even temperament and great force of character. Wherever he lived, his rare business gifts, combined as they were with a heart full of philanthropy, made him a man pre-eminent among his fellows. He made many friends and kept them. Such a man is indeed rare, and his untimely death will be regretted throughout the state and elsewshere. It will be many a day before the memory of "our grand old" man fades from the hearts of his friends. The departed was married to Mary Shaw, coming to the United States in 1850, first landing on American soil in New York city, July 4 of that year going to Wisconsin, where he resided thirty-four years; came to Washington in 1884; lived first year in Seattle, and since then his home has been on the farm, five miles west of this city. To Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan were born seven children, six of whom are now living. He was brought up in the Presbyterian faith, later joined the Baptist denomination, but since coming here, has always attended and supported the First Congregational church. Funeral services were held in the latter named place of worship Monday afternoon at 2 p.m., the edificie being packed to the doors. The casket that contained all that was earthly of Daniel Buchanan, was taken to Portland yesterday by his nephew, Daniel A. Scott, and in accordance with the will and his oftime expressed desire, the body will be cremated, as he unqualifiedly believed in incineration. The surviving children are John, Rio, Wis.; Daniel, Chippewa Falls, Wis.; Mrs. Mary Bartholomew, Pingree, N. D.; Mrs. Martha B. Barnes, Blaine, Wash.; James A., North Dakota, and Wm. H. Ulysses, Hamilton, Idaho. Julia Porak A terrible accident occurred in Spokane Tuesday evening at 11 o'clock when the Northern Pacific west bound passenger train pulled in, which resulted in the instantaneous death of Miss Julie Porak, of Sprague, the 19-year-old daughter of R. O. Porak, who formerly owned the Club saloon here. On account of the vast crowd waiting to depart the gatekeeper allowed the crowd to pass out to the platform and in the rush for seats as the train came steaming in, the lady, a member of a presidential party of four, was pushed too close to the trains and the side rods of the engine caught her and she was pulled under the wheels. Her body was dragged nearly two blocks and when liberated it was found that her head had been almost entirely severed. She was a very estimable young lady and both the parents are away, the father on a pleasure trip to Germany and the mother being treated in St. Louis for nervous trouble and to whom it is feared the shock will be fatal. Adams County News, June 3, 1903, issue Mrs. Belle Dirstine Mrs. Belle Dirstine, an old and respected pioneer lady of this county, died at Lind last Tuesday morning of consumption, after two years of acute suffering. The lady was the wife of Elias Dirstine and a sister of Dr. L. L. Sutton of Hatton. Besides the husband she leaves three sons: Isaac Dirstine, who has had charge of Dirstine Bros.' drug store at Connell; John Dirstine, druggist and mayor of Lind, and Pearl Dirstine, besides numerous relatives and friends. The funeral occurred Monday from the residence at Lind conducted by Rev. Kufus; interment at Sutton cemetery, 12 miles south. Adams County News, June 10, 1903, issue Suicide at Lind Lind, Wash., June 10 - About 9 o'clock in the morning Miss Carolyn Merrill entered the Grain Belt saloon, inquiring for her lover, Joe Naffziger, the proprietor. On being told that he was asleep in his room she proceeded there. After a brief conversation she reappeared and drank an ounce of carbolic acid, which she had procured at a drug store on her way to the saloon. She was removed to the Commercial hotel, where she expired in about two hours. The couple had been engaged about three months. Last evening during a drive Naffziger broke the engagement. The young woman spent the night grieving for the love she had lost. On her person were found letters of farewell to Naffziger and her brother, saying she "could not live without Joe's love," and begging God to forgive her for the deed she was about to commit. Miss Merrill came here last November from near Guthrie Center, Iowa, where her mother lives. She was 21 years of age. She was respected by all who knew her. A brother, Frank Merrill, is employed in the Commercial hotel. A sister, who lives in Portland, has been notified.