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 and Ritzville Times, Thursday, April 4, 1912, issue Alfred Smith WASHTUCNA - Alfred, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Smith of this place, died at Waitsburg on March 17. Mrs. Smith, who has been in a critical condition for some time, is greatly improved and the doctors now hold strong hopes for her recovery. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, April 11, 1912, issue Burned To Death A most unfortunate accident occurred at Tyler last Saturday. A little after noon Mrs. Harris, mother of Wayne Harris, the blacksmith, with whom she was living, was found in the back yard of the Harris home with her clothing on fire. Neighbors hurried to her rescue but the flames had cooked the upper part of her body and the doctor who arrived soon after the accident could do nothing for her. She died Monday morning at 4 o'clock. The old lady had not been in her right mind for some time and was being closely watched, but Mrs. Wayne Harris left her only a few minutes while she went to the store when the accident occurred. She was buried at Lance Hills Monday afternoon. A husband and seven children survive her. -Sprague Advocate Manfred Infant CUNNINGHAM - The little son of Alex Manfred and wife died Sunday morning, March 31, and was buried on Monday in the Cunningham cemetery. Father O'Brien of Sprague, conducted the services. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, April 18, 1912, issue Death Of W. H. Embree Died, at Puyallup, Wash., April 1st, 1912, William H. Embree Mr. Embree was a pioneer of the state of Washington. He came with his family from State Center, Iowa, to Walla Walla in 1882. He was in the government service for many years at Fort Simcoe and Cushman Indian schools. He leaves an aged mother, wife and seven children - Mrs. Blanche Parsons, formerly of Ritzville, but now of Tacoma; Mrs. W. E. Douglass of Lind; Bert Embree of Seattle; Mrs. W. T. Patterson of Santa Ana, Cal.; Mrs. Geo. VanBuskirk of Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Will Moore of Puyallup, this state and Miss Cora Embree of Pipestone, Minn. William Overman CONNELL - The funeral of William Overman, who died Thursday at the home of his brother, southwest of Kahlotus, was held here Friday, interment being in Mountain View cemetery. Katie Schafer ODESSA - Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Schafer, who live on a ranch about 12 miles southwest of Odessa, are mourning the loss of their fifteen year old daughter, Katie, who died Friday, April 5, of pneumonia. The funeral was held from the home Sunday. W. H. Smith WASHTUCNA - The body of W. H. Smith, the foreman who was killed last week by an explosion in Allen & Dingle's camp on the North Coast, was shipped last Saturday from Pasco to his home in West Virginia. Mrs. Sherfey WASHTUCNA - Dr. J. W. Sherfey yesterday received word that his sister-in-law, wife of his youngest brother, Walter, died Wednesday at Colfax, the cause of her death being tuberculosis of the lungs. Mrs. Sherfey has been failing ever since her marriage two years ago, but this spring she grew rapidly worse. Dr. Sherfey is unable to attend the funeral because of several patients here. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, April 25, 1912, issue Pioneer Passes Away Mrs. Catherine Dewald, an old resident of Adams county, and Ritzville, died at her home last Saturday afternoon after an illness of only a few days. She was attacked with severe headaches early last week, which continued until her death. Mrs. Dewald came to this state with her husband from Nebraska in 1882, and they have been residents of this section of the state ever since. She was past 75 years of age at the time of her death. G. J. Dewald, the husband, two daughters, Mrs. Fred Kimbel and Mrs. Conrad Schafer; three sons, Jacob and John Dewald of this city, and George of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, remain to mourn her loss. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the German Methodist church, conducted by Rev. John Mueller. The remains were laid to rest in the Ritzville cemetery. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, May 2, 1912, issue Found Dead KAHLOTUS -Friday morning about nine o'clock it was reported in town that there was a dead man near the S. P. & S. track about three miles east of town, and upon investigation it was found to be a fact and the coroner was at once notified. The body was guarded until the coroner arrived in the evening and it was found that the man met his death by falling from an S. P. & S. train. The man's neck was broken from the fall. The remains were taken to Pasco for burial. The body was identified by papers as that of a Mr. Low. The dead man is about 25 years old and is thought to be the son of a former Kahlotus saloon man. -Kahlotus Record The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, May 9, 1912, issue Tragedy at Cunningham Cunningham was stirred about 9:30 Monday night with the report that John W. Foley of that place had killed his wife and later taken his own life. The double tragedy was witnessed by no one and was the culmination of several months of domestic trouble. When word was received here at about 9:45 on the night of the murder, Sheriff Coss, Coroner Bice and Prosecuting Attorney Truax made arrangements with the railway company to have train No. 3 stop at Cunningham and upon their arrival there found the bodies as they had fallen when the shots were fired. Mrs. Daisy E. Foley, the murdered woman, was 34 years of age, while her husband, John Foley, was 36 years old. It appears that since some domestic trouble had arisen between the couple that they had not been living together. Mrs. Foley had been conducting the hotel at Cunningham and her husband had been living in Spokane. It is said that while staying in Spokane Foley had issued some checks that had been returned on account of there being no funds available for their payment and that the person to whom they had been issued had called upon his wife to pay them. This she refused to do and it is said that action was being contemplated against Foley at the time of his suicide. After the officers had made an examination of the bodies and decided that it was a plain case of murder and suicide and that a coroner's inquest would not be necessary, the bodies were removed and prepared for burial by Undertaker McCaffery. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, May 16, 1912, issue Jacob Shirley Dies Jacob L. Shirley, one of the early settlers of Adams county, died at his home twelve miles southeast of this city at 6:30 o'clock Monday morning, after an illness which last only a few hours. Early Monday morning Mr. Shirley was taken with a severe pain in his abdomen. Dr. Burroughs was called but arrived too late. Death came as a result of an internal abdomenal hemorrhage. He was 50 years of age. Funeral services were held at the Christian church in this city Wednesday morning at eleven o'clock. Interment was made in the Ritzville cemetery. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World, in which order he carried $1,000 life insurance. Foley Burial CUNNINGHAM - The body of John w. Foley was buried in the Cunningham cemetery last Thursday morning. Mrs. Foley's body was sent to Lind where it will be kept until relatives have been communicated with. J. W. and R. E. Foley came down from Spokane to attend the funeral of their brother, John Foley. They were accompanied by Homer Gibson, a friend of the family. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, May 23, 1912, issue William White SPRAGUE - William White died last Thursday and was buried Saturday in the Macabee cemetery, Rev. Edwards conducting the services at the grave. Richardson Infant LIND - The infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Richardson died Sunday, May 12. Foley Burial LIND - The body of Mrs. John Foley which was being held at McCaffery's undertaking rooms awaiting the arrival of relatives, was buried in the Lind cemetery by her aunt, Clara O'Bridge of Reardan. Cunningham friends of Mrs. Foley were the donors of a beautiful floral tribute to the dead woman. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, May 30, 1912, issue W. D. Eversold BENGE - Word was received by the local Odd Fellows lodge of the death of one of its members, W. D. Eversold, at the hospital in Spokane last week. He joined the local organization last winter. He is survived by a wife and little daughter. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, June 6, 1912, issue H. Christensen Drinks Poison Friends and acquaintances of Henry E. Christensen of Pasco, and formerly of this place, were surprised when they learned Saturday morning of his death on an eastbound S. P. & S. train. It is generally supposed that his death was suicide, although many of his friends are inclined to believe that it was not. Before his death he told a physician who had boarded the train at Washtucna in response to a call from the train officials that he had drunk some whisky from a silver flask, and that it tasted like the bottle was corroded. Dr. Bice, the coroner of Adams county, said that he believed the flask had contained a strong solution of strychnine. Mr. Christensen's stomach has been removed and sent to the state chemist, as was also the flask containing the posioned liquid that is supposed to have caused the death. Mr. Christensen has been connected with the Bank of Pasco for several years in the capacity of cashier, and had boarded the train for Spokane with several thousand dollars worth of Pasco improvement bonds that he was intending to sell. Before leaving his home about 1 o'clock in the morning he had told his wife that he was intending to go to Seattle on business, but it is presumed that he had changed his plans after leaving his home and had started for Spokane instead. According to the statement of the Pullman conductor, Mr. Christensen had retired some time after leaving Pasco, and that very soon afterwards he called the porter and informed him that he felt ill. A doctor was called at Washtucna, who reached Mr. Christensen before he died. When asked whether or not he had drunk anything, he replied that he had taken a drink from a flask of whisky that he sometimes carried. He commenced to have convulsions, and before anything could be done for his relief, he died. The sheriff and coroner of Adams county were notified and the body was brought to Ritzville where his brother, George Christensen, and sister, Mrs. Anthony Lovell, live. The body was taken to Pasco Saturday evening. Several Ritzville businessmen accompanied it. Mr. Christensen was a member of the city council of Pasco and was prominent in the affairs of Pasco and Franklin county. He belonged to a number of fraternal orders, among them being the Masons, Eagles, Woodmen, Odd Fellows K. of P., Moose and Elks, and in many of the lodges he had gone through the chairs. As soon as it was learned that Mr. Christensen had died, the bank examiner called a special meeting of the directors of the institution and all business matters were found in first-class shape. (Note: Mrs. Anna Christensen and a contractor, Albert B. Carey, were later charged with murder in the first degree in Henry Christensen's death.) The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, June 13, 1912, issue Mrs. John H. King Ellen S. Grover was born February 14th, 1846, in the state of Illinois, and died Saturday morning, June 8th, 1912, aged 66 years, 3 months and 24 days. She was married to John H. King December 22, 1862. There are six children living and all were present at the service. Deceased crossed the plains with teams in 1880, and settled near Helix, Oregon. The family came to Ritzville in 1904, where they have since resided. Deceased had been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church since she was twelve years of age, a member of the Women's Relief Corps, Rebekah lodge, Ladies of the Maccabees, American Woman's League and W. C. T. U. The surviving children are W. W. King, Ritzville; Elsie E. King, Weston, Oregon; Alma A. Scott, Ritzville; John Ervin King, Helix, Oregon; Ethel Julian Friday, Harper, Washington. Lamb Infant COLUMBIA FLAT BREEZES - A very sad incident occurred on the east side of the flat last Sunday. The team of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Lamb ran away, upsetting the light wagon in which they were riding, and causing the death of their little daughter who was in her mother's arms. The interment took place in Connell, and the Rev. Haines spoke tenderly of the little one and gave comfort to the heart-broken mother. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, June 20, 1912, issue Farmer Has Neck Broken Julius Geschke Dies After Fall From Wagon While returning to his home from Ritzville Monday night, Julius Geschke fell from the wagon in which he was riding and broke his spinal column almost between the shoulders. He was discovered in the road at about two o'clock in the morning where he had been since about nine o'clock of the evening previous. When he was found he was conscious, and has been much of the time since, though Dr. Armann, who is attending him, said that he became unconscious Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Geschke is a man about 40 years old. When notified that the man had been found in the road about six miles from town, Dr. Armann hastened to the place in his automobile and took him to his home near Packard. While no one witnessed the accident it is generally believed that some horses which Mr. Geschke had been leading had become frightened and jerked him from his seat on the wagon. He is paralyzed from the shoulders down and the attending physician says that he can live but a few days at the most. The injured man is the father-in-law of ex County Engineer O. O. Hauschild. He has a wife and several children. 11 a.m. Wednesday - Mr. Geschke died from the effects of his accident a few momemts ago. Jack Gilmour OTHELLO - Jack Gilmour, a Milwaukee railroad lineman, was killed here June 7 by a helper engine on Beverly Hill. Gilmour left Othello on train No. 15 and had done work along the hill, and was returning to Boylston on a speeder when the accident occurred. The engine that helped No. 15 up the hill was backing down to Beverly and overtook Gilmour in a deep cut. The man who was killed is 29 years of age, and had come here from Michigan. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, June 27, 1912, issue Robinson son COLUMBIA FLAT BREEZES - A terrible accident, which resulted in the death of the nine year old son, befell the family of Mr. Robinson of Kennewick, in Mesa last Friday. Mr. Robinson with his wife, a grown daughter and four younger children, were driving through the country from Colfax to Kennewick, where he had purchased an irrigrated tract. Upon reaching Mesa Mr. Robinson pulled the bridles from the horses' mouths when they took fright and started through the town at a frightful speed. Just before striking a telephone pole at Foster's store, the elder sister, threw the younger one out. When the wagon struck the pole the concussion threw the rest of the family out, the little boy striking the telephone pole, fracturing the skull and breaking the boy's neck. Kind hands took charge of the heart-broken mother and family. The body was shipped to Kennewick on train No. 41, where interment took place Saturday. Marie Kolberg WASHTUCNA - Marie, the 11 months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Kolberg, of Palouse Falls, died last Friday, and was buried from the Presbyterian church of this place the following day. The Rev. J. E. Heeter conducted the service and interment was made in the Odd Fellows' cemetery. Spinal meningities was the cause of the child's death.