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, October 7, 1903, issue Kate Achziger Dead Miss Kate Achziger, a splendid young woman of twenty-two years, a member of a highly respected family, died of blood poisoning in this city, Sunday, Oct. 4, 1903. This is the third death in the family in the last three years. A mother, three brothers and three sisters survive her. She had been a member of the German Congregational church for the past three years and the funeral occurred from that church Tuesday afternoon, Rev. Egland, the pastor, officiating. The Lady Maccabees of which the deceased was a member attended in a body with floral tributes. The body was interred in the Spanjer cemetery. Adams County News, October 14, 1903, issue Peter A. Grinley A terrible accident occurred Tuesday afternoon on Cow Creek at the farm of A. F. Narver, twelve miles east, in which Peter A. Grinley was instantly killed and John Dodson severely injured by the premature explosion of dynamite. The men were blasting out a ditch to drain a slough. The dead man is 42 years of age, a native of Nova Scotia and has relatives at Lancaster, Ontario. Dr. J. W. Lansing dressed the wounded man and he is recovering. Carrie Bassett Miss Carrie Bassett, aged seventeen, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Bassett of Washtucna, died at St. Mary's hospital in Walla Walla last Friday. She had been operated upon for appendicitis and complications ensued. Funeral services were held in Walla Walla Saturday. Adams County News, October 21, 1903, issue Spencer Jones Spencer, a little two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Panco Jones, residing on the O. R. Haight farm 12 miles northeast, was burned to death last Saturday evening in a fire which destroyed house, barn and contents. An older brother and the little fellow were playing in the barn presumably with matches which started the holocaust. The older lad ran in the house and told his mother the barn was on fire but before she could reach it and secure the little fellow the roof had fallen in covering the body. The limbs and head had been burned from the body when found. Rev. E. P. Lyon officiated at the grave in the evening saying only a few words in consolation to the grief-stricken parents. J. F. West J. F. West, aged 58 years, died Wednesday morning at 2:30 of pneumonia. The deceased was a native of Missouri moving to this county two years ago. His aged wife, four daughters and one son, A. L. West, a resident of this city, are left bereaved of his loss. Funeral services were held from the Methodist church Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. Rev. C. G. Harmon, the pastor, officiating. Adams County News, November 11, 1903, issue Pioneer Passes Away Jesse Henderson Lavender died in Spokane, Nov. 9, 1903, aged 68 years. The subject of this brief sketch was born at Belleview, Missouri, November 9, 1835. In 1862 during the civil war he married Miss Susan Rhoades at Erath, Texas, and to them were born eleven children of which seven now survive. Besides the sorrowing mother now widowed, who are left to mourn the loss of a kind indulgent father are Jackson, of Reardan, Joseph A. of Manila, Spokane county, Jesse H. of Lamona, Garrett W., Andrew Lee, Mark Clay and Miss Nora at the old home on the south fork of Crab Creek 12 miles north of this city. Mr. Lavender landed with his family in Ritzville, October 14, 1886, coming from Tillamook county, Oregon, and farming and stock-raising has been successfully followed by them ever since. Mr. Lavender died Monday at his residence, 908 Augusta avenue, Spokane, of heart trouble. He had been ailing for a number of years. Mr. Lavender celebrated his 68th birthday the day before his death. In 1851 he entered the civil war as a confederate soldier, a private under General Beauregard, and took an active part in the stirring times of those eventful days when the lives of men were most sorely tried. While in the army he received a gunshot wound in the shoulder, the effect of which was an indirect cause of his death. He was noted for uprightness and honesty in all his dealings, his word was as good as his bond, and he was a man universally respected. The deceased and his faithful wife saw much of frontier life in enduring the hardships of all early pioneers. Funeral services occurred this morning at Spokane conducted by Rev. W. H. Frey of the Jefferson Street M. E. church. Upon arrival of the remains in the morning Rev. C. G. Harmon, pastor of the Methodist church of this city will officiate. Business will suspend during the final ceremonies interment occurring in Spanjer cemetery immediately after. Adams County News, November 18, 1903, issue Jennie Hawley Miss Jennie Hawley died Wednesday night, Nov. 18, about 10 o'clock at the residence of S. D. Douglas on Knob Hill. The lady was nineteen years of age, a daughter of Mrs. Sarah Hawley, who moved here from Guthrie Center, Iowa, about Oct. 1. Mrs. Shoesmith of Lind, David Teegarden of this city, and other relatives are residents of the county. The cause of death was quick consumption contracted from an attack of measles about a year ago. At the time she was clerking in the Ritzville post office. Funeral services will be held from the Methodist church at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon. Adams County News, December 2, 1903, issue Peters W. R. Peters received the sad intelligence this morning conveying the news of the death of his aged mother at Ironwood, Michigan. The lady had been an invalid for the past twenty years. Adams County News, December 9, 1903, issue Decease of a Former Resident Mrs. Florence A. Adams, wife of Judge J. C. Adams, died of eczema at the family home in this city, Thrusday morning, December 3, 1903, at 7:20 o'clock, aged 57 years. Her last illness began about nine months ago, and she was a constant sufferer until the end came. The funeral services will be held at the residence at 2 o'clock this afternoon, and will be conducted by Rev. Joy of Portland, assisted by Rev. L. Green, pastor of the Christian church of this city. The remains will be taken to Portland on tomorrow morning's train for cremation. Mrs. Adams, whose maiden name was Florence A. Bentley, was born in Indiana, August 10, 1846. She was married to J. C. Adams in Iowa, January 11, 1866. The family moved to Adams county, Washington, in 1888, and came to Oregon five years later, arriving in Dallas, May 20, 1893. Mrs. Adams made many friends by her pleasant nature and many kindly acts. She lived the life of a consistent Christian and was greatly beloved by those who knew her best. A husband and three children survive her. The children are: Mrs. F. B. Moran, of Battle Creek, Michigan; Mrs. Marshall Blessing of Sellwood, Oregon, and Louis Adams of Dallas, Oregon. -Polk County (Or.) Observer The deceased formerly lived here, her surviving husband, J. C. Adams, having been prosecuting attorney of this county in 1891-92. They were old friends of Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Barronett of this city. Adams County News, December 16, 1903, issue Hon. Thomas M. May Hon. Thomas M. May, a Washington pioneer, father of Delos May, a respected citizen of this county, lies dead at the old home in Dayton. The funeral will take place tomorrow. The deceased has been in declining health for several years ending in dropsy and death. Mr. May was an old-time miner of California, and also lived at Roseburg, Oregon, before coming to Washington in 1871, having been married at the later place. During his residence in Columbia county he was always prominent in republican politics, attending all republican conventions and was for a number of years chairman of the republican county central committee. Mr. May was one the first proprietors of the Columbian Chronicle, Dayton's republican paper, Henry Gale, now dead, and Mr. May having started the paper in 1878. Mr. May was 69 years of age, and leaves a wife and seven children - Mrs. Henry Young of Pullman, Mrs. A. C. Thorp of Marcus, H. D. May of Washtucna, Mrs. R. M. Hester, T. E. May, Mrs. J. W. Harsh and Mrs. Mattie May of Dayton.