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 6, 1904, issue Mary Peoples Miss Mary Peoples, a cousin of W. P. Taylor of this city, died in the Deaconess Home at Spokane last Tuesday. The remains were shipped to Moro, Oregon, for interment. Adams County News, April 20, 1904, issue Melchoir Weber Melchoir Weber, of Roachton, Ohio, died at his home Feby. 17, at the advanced age of eighty one years. His son, Jacob Weber, is an old pioneer of this county, coming here more than twenty years ago, and now resides at Weber post office, about thirty miles west from this city. He returned last week from a visit at the old home which he had not seen for twenty-three years and in attendance at his father's funeral. Adams County News, April 27, 1904, issue V. R. Durgy Tuesday morning W. H. Tuggle received a letter from his wife at Bloomington, Ill., announcing the death of her father, V. R. Durgy at 4 a.m. on Thursday, April 21st, after an illness of two years, suffering with paralysis. He was nearly 78 years of age. Three children survive him, all of whom were at his bedside when death ensued. They are Mrs. Eva Chrisman of Normal, Ill., Chas. V. Durgy of Shirley, Ill., and Mrs. Ada. L. Tuggle of this city. The deceased was a member of William T. Sherman Post No. 46 G.A.R., at Bloomington. Funeral services were held from the home on Saturday, April 23. Adams County News, May 4, 1904, issue Victor Alexander Freed Victor Alexander Freed, sixteen year old son and sole support of Mrs. Morris Ahern, widow, was almost instantly killed Saturday morning at 11:30 by the west-bound "North Coast Limited" passenger train at the crossing on E. street. The awful accident which cost the life of young Freed occurred on what is known to be the most dangerous crossing in the town. On account of the large wheat warehouses on each side of the street, standing flush with both streets and railway track the view is almost clearly cut off so that the driver of a vehicle cannot see a rapidly approaching train until his team is practically upon the track, or so near, that retreat is nearly impossible. Accompanied by his mother and little three year old brother, he had unloaded a shipment of chickens and eggs, products of the farm seven miles north of town at the depot, where Mrs. Ahern remained to attend to the bills of lading and was returning to this side when the engine of the delayed passenger train, collided with Mr. Freed's outfit, completely demolishing the heavy wheat wagon, literally grinding the wood work into kindling wood, derimming the wheels and twisting the iron work in a manner indicating the tremendous force and crushing power of such a collision. Freed's body was carried by the cow catcher about a half block before the train was stopped. A blow upon the back of the head fracturing the skull caused death. The body was not mangled or torn. When picked up, the injured and unconscious man was still breathing and Dr. F. R. Burroughs and J. M. Adams were on the scene in a few moments using superhuman efforts to save the life that was quickly ebbing, but consciousness never returned and within a few moments Freed was pronounced dead. Clyde Hervey, acting for Undertaker O. R. Haight, took charge of the body and had it properly cared for at the morgue. Funeral services occurred Sunday at 2 p.m. conducted by Rev. C. G. Harmon of the Methodist Episcopal church and burial was in the Spanjer cemetery. Adams County News, May 25, 1904, issue Killed by Lind Marshal In a shooting affray which happened at Billie's & Reiley's early Monday evening, at Lind two men were seriously injured. The affair started when Marshal Strudivan undertook to arrest W. C. Brummett, Brummett had been drinking, and during the afternoon informed Marshal Sturdivan that if he undertook to arrest him he would shoot the officer. Brummett drove a man from the saloon to the street with a gun in his hand, swearing that he would shoot him, Marshal Sturdivan attempted to arrest Brummett, when the latter fired. The bullet inflicted a flesh wound on the marshal's right hand, passing upward to the shoulder through the clothing, Marshal Sturdivan returned the fire at Brummett, the bullet taking effect in the left of the abdomen. Jacob Koch, a farmer, who resides a few miles north of Lind, was in the saloon at the time of the shooting, and was stuck in the abdomen by a stray bullet. Mayor Dirstine closed all the saloons, and Marshal Sturdivan was excused from duty, and three special marshals were put on duty. This was due to threatening by persons on the street who had taken sides in the affair. Brummett died Wednesday morning. He has a wife and child. Adams County News, June1, 1904, issue Death of Mrs. Wollenberg Ferdinand F. Wollenberg who left here two weeks ago to attend the St. Louis World's fair had just been in attendance there two days when he received a message stating that his mother was very ill at the home in Greenwood, Wisconsin. He immediately left for home. The Greenwood Gleaner reports her death as follows: Mrs. C. Wollenberg died at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning, May 22, 1904, after a few days illness. Affection of the liver, of long standing is pronounced the cause of death. The end came quietly and without suffering. The funeral was held Thursday, May 26, Rev. P. F. Stair, pastor of the M. E. church of Medford officiating. Deceased was the mother of nine children, three dying in infancy. The living are Charles F., of Grand Rapids, Minn., E. F. Henry J., of Medford, Emma, Ferdinand, of Ritzville, Wash., and Ella. Her devotion to her family and children is the strong point in her character. The welfare of her children seemed to be her one ambition and to this end she always labored and hoped and has been rewarded in her latter years by realizing her ambitions. A doubly sad feature of the present occasion is the fact that the children had been planning on being home by the first of June to witness the graduation of the youngest sister, Ella, and enjoy a family reunion. None of them little dreamed that before June first they would be called together for a far different purpose. Adams County News, June 22, 1904, issue Linn Infant Mr. and Mrs. Bert Linn on the hill lost their new born babe Sunday evening. Dr. J. W. Lansing attended the case and gave service of a skilled medical aid but was unable to save the precious life of the little infant boy. Adams County News, June 29, 1904, issue Mrs. M. E. Corbett Mrs. M. E. Corbett died Wednesday evening of typhoid fever, at the farm home, four miles south of Lind. The family formerly resided in Ritzville. Dr. Burroughs was called too late to consult with Dr. Henderson of Lind.