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 ==================================================================== The Washington State Journal, Thursday, October 7, 1909, issue Strohmier LIND - The four-year-old daughter of E. Strohmier, a German farmer living out north of town, died last Tuesday of diphtheria. As death was the result of a dangerous contagious disease no funeral service was held and interment was made on the ranch. Baumann DIED - On Friday, October 1, 1909, the twin daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Baumann of this city. The other little one died and was buried last week. They were about two months old. W. J. Compton William J. Compton was struck by No. 5 Wednesday afternoon about 12:30 on a crossing one-and-a-half miles east of Lind, and injured so badly that he died at 5 o'clock that evening. Compton was in the employ of M. M. Bowers and was hauling wheat to Lind with a four-in-hand. The wind was blowing furiously with the air a cloud of dust. A team passed just ahead of Compton safely, both seeing a train that passed a moment before. The lead team was killed. Compton's injuries were a fractured skull, with other lesser injuries. Deceased was a single man 26 years of age. The Ritzville Times, Thursday, October 7, 1909, issue J. T. Cowley HATTON - Word was received here this week announcing the death of J. T. Cowley, formerly of this place, which occurred at the home of his daughter at Willimington, Illinois, on September 18th. Besides the daughter in Illinois, Mr. Cowley leaves a wife, son and three daughters at this place. The Washington State Journal, Thursday, October 14, 1909, issue David B. Johnson David B. Johnson, a pioneer of this county and city, died late last night. Funeral services will be held firday afternoon. The Washington State Journal, Thursday, October 21, 1909, issue Civil War Veteran Passes Away David B. Johnson, whose death was mentioned in the last issue of the Journal, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, April 1, 1836. By an early marriage two daughters are living, Mrs. A. E. Elder of Barry, Ill., and Mrs. J. A. Smith of El Dora, Ill. Two brothers and a sister also live in Illinois. At Summer Hill, Ill., on April 17, 1870, he married Eura J. Watkins, who survives him. Of this union eight children were born, five of whom are living. Two sons, J. W. and A. T. are residents of Ritzville. There are three daughters, Mrs. J. L. Lovett of Spokane; Mrs. A. S. Leeher of Lind; and Mrs. J. D. Sellars of Bonner, Montana, all of whom were in attendance at the funeral. He came here about eight years ago and took up a homestead. For the past five years he had lived in this city. Mr. Johnson enlisted in Company I, Eleventh Missouri regiment, and served two years and 10 months during the Civil war. At the battle of Corinth, while carrying the flag for the colorbearer, who had been killed, he received a shot through the lung. As a result of this wound he was an invalid for 26 years, but of late the wound had not troubled him, though he had been in poor health for the past year. In the early part of the summer he spent about two months with his daughter in Spokane, but after coming home his health continued to fail and he died Wednesday, October 13, 1909. Funeral services were held in the Methodist church Friday at 11 o'clock, Rev. Wm. Hoskins, pastor of the church, preaching the sermon. The burial service was in charge of W. B. Hazen Post No. 46 and Chaplain A. C. Leabo gave a touching address at the grave. W. R. Birdwell HATTON - With profound sorrow Hatton people recieved the sad message Friday of the untimely death of her time-honored citizen, W. R. Birdwell. Though he had been in ill health for some time past. less than two weeks ago Mr. Birdwell was taken to Spokane and placed in the Sacred Heart hospital, where he passed away at 2 o'clock on the afternoon of Friday, October 15th. Walter Rufus Birdwell was born in St. Claire county, Missouri, October 25, 1876. He was most happily married on June 20, 1907, at Sandpoint, Idaho, to Miss Fannie Johnston, a school teacher from Springfield, Mo. One child came to bless this union. Mr. Birdwell came to Washington in 1899 and had followed agricultural pursuits until about 18 months ago, when he bought out the Hatton Hardware company and continued the same business until about a month ago, when his failing health compelled a change. Walter Birdwell was a friend to everybody and we feel that we have lost one of our best citizens. He was always found trustworthy and reliable and was one in whom we could place great confidence. He was an honored member of the local A. O. U. W., and was serving as deputy sheriff at the time of his death. The remains were brought down by Judge Batten, accompanied by his aged father and his grief stricken wife, on No. 5 Sunday, October 17th, and they were met by a large concourse of friends, together with the Rebekah and the A. O. U. W. lodges in a body, under which rituals the funeral services were conducted. The remains were laid to rest in the A. O. U. W. cemetery west of town. Deceased is survived by a wife, young son, father, four brothers and three sisters. The Washington State Journal, Thursday, October 26, 1909, issue Angel of Death Claims Mother One of the saddest deaths to occur in our community in a long time was that of Mary Elsie Adams, wife of Attorney J. Oscar Adams, last Sunday morning, following a few days after the birth of fine healthy twins. Death was caused by uraemic poisoning, due to conditions that had existed for some time. Dr. Burroughs, assisted by Dr. Lasater, had charge of the case, and for 72 hours one or the other of them was in constant attendance. Two nurses also did everything in their power, but without avail, and death took away the mother at 4:30 o'clock Sunday morning. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, beginning with a prayer at the house at 2 o'clock, followed by a service at the Baptist church. Mrs. Adams, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Conway, was born in Linn county, Oregon, 29 years ago. She joined the Christian church in 1898. On October 6, 1903, she was married to J. Oscar Adams and came to Ritzville to live. During the six years of her residence here she had earned a warm place in the heart of all who knew her best. She was a member of the Baptist choir and a teacher in the Sunday school. Besides her husband and babes, Mrs. Adams is survived by father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Conway of Post Falls, Idaho, and a sister. Mr. and Mrs. Conway will take care of the twins and later expect to come to Ritzville to live. The Washington State Journal, Thursday, November 4, 1909, issue Fatal Accident Occurs Early Last Sunday Morning Someone has said, "There is only a breath between time and eternity." How true this was with August Hillgendorff last Sunday morning about 10 o'clock. One moment in the vigor of health - the next a mangled, lifeless body. The story of the tragedy is as follows: Deceased was a farmer living on the Wm. J. Bennington ranch some 12 miles northeast of Lind. He was the adopted son of Mr. and Mrs. August Sielaff. In this connection we have a very unusual and unnatural story to relate. On the 5th of December, 1874, the couple was married in Germany. Thirteen children were born to them, the eldest being 30 years of age and the youngest eight, when divorce proceedings were commenced on the 2nd day of February, 1906. The case hung fire for over a year, the decree being finally granted on the 10th of June, 1907, by Judge Warren. The complaint for divorce alleged that the mother of these 13 children had been criminally intimate with Hillgendorff; that the husband detected their unlawful relations first on the 3rd of September, 1903, when he returned late at night from Ritzville and discovered them occupying the same bed; that thereafter their relations were flagrant and continous. Since separated by the courts the woman has lived with Hillgendorff and has taken his name, although the Adams county records contain no evidence of their marriage. He was 33 years old, while she was well past 50. She represented that he was her adopted son. A sad, sad story indeed. The couple came to town last Saturday from Lind to see about a law suit begun against them in the Adams county superior court by Charles Labes and Co. of Lind. They stayed over night at the home of August Wellsandt, just east of the corporation limits. During the night the victim of the accident was up most of the time assisting in caring for a sick horse. They planned to return to Lind on the 9:25 morning passenger train Sunday. The woman left the Wellsandt home a short time before Hillgendorff and had reached the depot. In hurrying to catch the train he ran down the railway track and, hearing the whistle, the rush and the roar of the oncoming train, evidently became confused and frightened. He was at one time safely off the track but attempted to cross over, with the result already known. Mrs. Sielaff, who had reached the station on time, was about to board the train when, on looking around to find the man who was to accompany her, saw the trainmen taking his dead body from the baggage car. The remains were taken to Lind Monday, the funeral services being held the next day from the German Lutheran church. Manfred Infant The home of Alex Manfred was brightened last Wednesday by the advent of a baby girl, only to be saddened Saturday by the death of the little one. The interment took place in Ritzville Monday according to the rites of the Roman Catholic church. Kuehn Infant On Saturday, October 31, 1909, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Kuehn died. The interment was at Benge on Monday. Mrs. L. P. Murphy Mrs. L. P. Murphy died at Pasco Saturday night. She was the wife of Dr. Murphy, formerly of this city, and her untimely demise will be deplored by her many friends in this city. The Ritzville Times, Thursday, November 4, 1909, issue Swan Tufvenson LIND - Swan Tufvenson, a well known farmer whose home was fourteen miles northwest of Lind, died at the Commercial Hotel last Sunday morning after being seriously ill but a few days. Death was caused by Bright's disease. The funeral took place from the Methodist church at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, the services being conducted by Rev. Mr. Hoskins, pastor of the Methodist church at Ritzville, as Rev. W. A. Luce, the local pastor was out of town. Hugh McLean WASHTUCNA - James McLean recieved a message last Friday from Milton, Ore., announcing the death of his brother, Hugh McLean, who passed away while moving overland with his father from Adams county to his home at Athena, Ore. The Ritzville Times, Thursday, November 11, 1909, issue Pioneer Called Englebert B. Born, Jr., well known in Ritzville and vicinity, has received word of the death of his father at Allegan, Mich., a few days ago. The elder Mr. Born had a varied and interesting career and we take the following sketch of his life from the Allegan Press: In the death of Englebert B. Born, who passed away last night at his home on Hill Street, Allegan loses one of its best known, most prominent, and most successful manfuacturer and citizens. He had been indentified with the business and manfacturing interests of the town since 1854, when he started in business for himself. Mr. Born was a native of Germany, and was born in Lindenbolzhausen, April 17, 1833. There his boyhood passed. He early determined to make his way across to America, and in 1849 left the Fatherland for this land of the free. He made the trip in a sailing vessel and was seven weeks on the journey, landing finally at New Orleans. The voyage across was uneventful, but excitement began soon as the party reached New Orleans, where a cholera epidemic was raging. He managed to get out and boarded the ship Illinois for the journey up the Mississippi River. On this boat many were stricken with cholera, but not until he left St. Louis on a smaller boat for Peoria, Ill., was he taken sick. He and three others were left in a log cabin at Peoria and given medicine by a physician. He threw the stuff away and lived, the others died. After reaching Chicago he apprenticed himself to a wagon maker for $25 for the first year. July 4 he drew his first installment of wages - 25 cents - with which to celebrate, though he knew nothing of the meaning of the celebration. Going to the post office he learned that a letter had arrived there for him from his old home, with 48 cents postage due. He had but a quarter, so went to his employer and got another quarter, securing the letter. He remained in that city until 1851, leaving then for Allegan, Michigan. He took passage in a sailing vessel and instead of landing at Holland the boat was partly wrecked and drifted into St. Joseph, from which city he walked to Allegan. Soon after arriving here he entered the employ of the late N. B. West, who was running a planning mill. He worked about three years there, working for himself after hours and building work benches and wood-working patterns. July 4, 1854, the West mill was burned and Mr. Born's patterns and benches were destroyed. He always said this was his first fire loss in Allegan, though it happened before he began business for himself. Nothwithstanding this loss he determined to start business for himself, and did so in a building on Hubbard street. Three years later he bought a lot on the river bank, on Water street, and moved there, continuing to manufacture the Born wagon, which in a few years had become famous the country over. Mr. Born was married in December, 1855, to Miss Mary Dickinson, who died Nov. 27, 1877. She was the mother of four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living: Charles, William and Edward, of Allegan, and Englebert, Jr., now of Ritzville, Wash.; Mrs. Grace Andrews, now here, and Mrs. K. E. Wicks of Grand Rapids. October 18, 1880, Mr. Born was married to Mrs. Waddell, who survives. They had intended to go to Chicago on their wedding trip on the steamer City of Alpena from Grand Haven, but an accident when going to the train made it necessary for them to turn back and they missed the train, going to the city by rail another way. That night a bad storm occurred on Lake Michigan and the Alpena went down. This accident - the overturning of the buggy in which they were riding - saved their lives. Besides the widow, three brothers, Daniel of Allegan; Henry of Maiden, Mont., and Jacob of Lind, Wash., and one sister, Mrs. Wendel Ederie, of Hopkins, are left. In 1875, Mr. Born made the first of three return trips to Germany. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, November 18, 1909, issue Adams County Boy Is Killed In the bed of a wheat wagon, where it had been placed by his father, the lifeless form of William Burns, the 17-year-old son of P. L. Burns, was brought to town Tuesday morning after the young man had met a violent death, the result of a runaway accident one mile north of town on the Washtucna hill. When Mr. Burns arrived in town he stopped at Wilson's store, when it first became known in town that the fatality had occurred, and the body was taken care of in the undertaking rooms. It was found that the neck had been broken and the face lacerated, probably resulting from the kick of a horse. The accident occurred about 9 o'clock. Not until Mr. Burns, who was driving a wagon ahead of his son, saw the leaders of the six-horse team driven by the boy race by his own wagon did he realize that an accident had happened. When he went back to aid the boy the latter lay dead in the road. It is believed that the lead horses took fright at the breaking of the lead chain and that the boy, in attempting to hold them, was pulled from the high seat and fell among the other horses. The grief of the father when he arrived intown with the body of his son was pitiable. An automobile was immediately sent to bring the mother and other relatives from the ranch on Rattlesnake Flat. Mr. and Mrs. Burns and eldest son, Johnie, and daughter, Gertie, left Wednesday for Scammon, Kansas, taking the remains there for burial. Another Pioneer Gone The ranks of the old-timers are once more thinned by the death of Stephen Devenish on the 4th of this month. Deceased was in Calgary, Alberta, where he had property interests, and his death resulted from pneumonia. He was 83 years old and unmarried. The funeral services were held in Edwall last Sunday. Mr. Devenish was one of the heavy land owners in Whitman and Adams counties, besides being a large stock owner. He was amoung the first settlers in this locality, and in his years of residence here amassed a small fortune. He never married, and always lived alone with his hired men on one of his Adams county ranches, where he had built himself an elegant home. While amply able to take life easy in any place he chose to live, he preferred the old place of early days and was aloways one of the busiest and hardworking men on the farm. -Lamont Union The Washington State Journal, Thursday, December 9, 1909, issue Death of Mrs. Tinnel Known and beloved by a wide circle of friends, Mrs. Cerita L. Tinnel died at 9:30 o'clock Monday morning at the Deaconess hospital in Spokane where she went two weeks previous for an operation. She had been in poor health for a long time and the operation was resorted to as the only possible means of restoring her health. For several days encouraging reports were received and her many friends believed that an ultimate complete recovery was possible, but on Thursday night of last week a decided change for the worse took place. Mrs. Tinnel is survived by one son, Henry Meyer of Spokane, and three daughters, Mrs. H. A. York, Mrs. D. Alton Davenny, and Miss Minnie Meyer, all of this city. Funeral services were held at the Pilgrim Congregational church in Spokane at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Burial took place at the Fairmount cemetery. Mrs. Tinnel was born near Salem, Ore., 54 years ago, and was married to Peter Meyer in 1872, this ceremony being performed at the home of D. M. Drumheller, at present a resident of Spokane, but who at that time made his home in Walla Walla. She lived for 35 years on a large ranch at Crab Creek near Lamona. For the last 10 years she has been a resident of Ritzville. She is well known in nearly all of the towns in eastern Washington. After the death of her husband, Peter Meyer, she married George Tinnel. The Washington State Journal, Thursday, December 16, 1909, issue Mary Rosenoff DIED - At the home of the sorrowing parents in this city on Saturday, December 11, 1909, at 3:10 a.m., of heart failure, Miss Mary Rosenoff, aged 16 years and two days, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rosenoff Sr. The first indication of serious ill health was noted on October 1st last. She rallied again and was about as usual, although not very rugged. Her last sickness came very suddenly and was of only two days duration. During her last hours she was a great sufferer. Mary was a student of the eighth grade of the Ritzville grammar school and beloved by all her schoolmates. On the 13th day of last June she was confirmed in the German Congregational church of this city and took the holy communion for the first time. She at once became a worker in the church and a helpful spirit in both church and home life. Funeral services were conducted from the German Congregational church on Monday afternoon, December 13th, at 1:30 o'clock. Brief services were also held at the home at 12:30. The deceased leaves to mourn her early taking off father, mother, two brothers and two sisters, besides four grandparents. (The Ritzville Times identifies these survivors as brothers, Will and Walter, and sisters as Anna and Yetta.) The Washington State Journal, Thursday, December 23, 1909, issue Galbreath Died at the family home in this city on Monday, December 20, 1909, John Thomas Galbreath, aged 77 years, of old age. Deceased was one of the Adams county pioneers, having moved to Ritzville 21 years ago, and had ever since resided here. He was born in Kentucky in 1832. When the call came for volunteers for the war of '61, he enlisted in Company C, Seventy-eighth Illinois infantry and served four years. He marched with Sherman "From Atlanta to the Sea," and was a prisoner in Libby prison for a time. Mr. Galbreath was twice married. His first wife was Mary E. Mann, three children being the fruit of the union, only one of whom survives. Mary Mann was stricken with consumption while her husband was in the army. He got a furlough and moved her to Kansas, hoping that the change would be beneficial. The husband returned to his regiment and the devoted wife died while he was at the front. His second wife was Mary H. Frost. As a result of this union three children came to bless the home, and all are living. The second wife died 24 years ago. The surviving children, who were all present for the funeral, are: Mrs. E. E. Marcy of Moscow, Idaho; Mrs. Belle Morris and Charles Galbreath of this city; and William Galbreath of Spokane. The chief characteristic of the deceased was his unvarying gentleness and kindliness to all living creatures. In spite of many experiences to shake his faith he ever retained a child-like faith in humankind. He was ever cheerful in disposition. Funeral services were held Wednesday, the Rev. William Hoskins of the Methodist church officiating. The Washington State Journal, Thursday, December 30, 1909, issue Wright DIED - In this city on Monday, December 27, 1909, of Bright's disease, Mrs. Rosalia E. Wright, aged 53 years, 9 months and 3 days. Deceased was married at Levingstone, Ill., to J. L. Wright about 26 years ago. Five children, all living, came to bless their home. The daughters are Mrs. Nellie Johnson and Jessie Morgan, Black Bear, Idaho, and Miss Kate Wright, this city. The sons are Orville, of Portland and James of Black Bear. After their marriage the Wrights lived at different times in Pennsylvania, Kansas, Idaho and Toppenish, Wash., coming to Adams county in July last, settling on a homestead in the Cow Creek section. Funeral services were held from the Christian church Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Wright was a life-long member of the M. E. church.