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 6, 1916, issue John Zimmerman Killed John Zimmerman, son of Henry Zimmerman of this city, and brother of Mrs. H. E. Hill and Mrs. H. E. Gritman, was killed while at work at White Salmon last Friday. According to the particulars so far learned he was engaged in road work. They were blasting out stumps when a fragment of rock struck him, crushing his skull. Mr. Zimmerman, Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Gritman left here to attend the funeral which was held at White Salmon Tuesday. John Zimmerman was born in Minnesota. He lived here a number of years and had many friends here who are grieved to learn of his untimely death. He was around 45 years of age. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, April 20, 1916, issue Carl Borgen ODESSA - Carl Borgen, a well known wheat rancher of the Odessa country, died at the Walla Walla hospital last Friday after a lingering illness which resulted from an injury sustained in a runaway accident last Fourth of July. Mr. Borgen was 53 years of age at the time of his death. He was a native of Russia and came to the United States in 1892 settling near Lincoln, Neb., where he resided ten years before he came to Washington and took up a residence seventeen miles southwest of Odessa. He is survived by a wife, six children, five brothers and two sisters. His body was shipped to his home and the funeral, which was a large one, conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. from the Emmaus German Congregational church by Rev. Albert Reimann. Burial took place at the church cemetery. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, April 27, 1916, issue Mrs. Sutton Dies Mrs. L. L. Sutton, who has lived for nearly thirty years on the Sutton homestead on Michigan Prairie, passed away yesterday afternoon at the old home, at twenty minutes past five. Her children were at her bedside. The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at two o'clock, conducted from the home. Mrs. Sutton has long been a resident of Adams County and has a great many friends to mourn her departure from this life. She was the mother of B. L. Sutton of Seattle. Darling Suicides In Hotel Dan Darling, until Sunday proprietor of the O. K. barber shop in this city, committed suicide at the Hotel Pedicord, in Spokane, last Monday night. He was registered under the name of H. C. Warner, Lewiston, Idaho, and had destroyed all identification marks about his clothing so that it was not until yesterday that his identity was established. Death was caused by shooting, an automatic pistol of the latest English design being used to accomplish the deed. The generally accepted theory as to the motive for his suicide is his disappointment in a love affair. Mr. Darling was a man about fifty years of age. He became enamoured of a girl of about thirty years younger than he was. The girl resided here with her mother until some months ago when they removed to a small town near Spokane. Mr. Darling was very much infatuated with the young lacy, and according to reports they became engaged. Years before Mr. Darling had been married, his wife securing a divorce in New York state. Just a few months ago, in order to be free to re-marry, he secured a divorce in this state. Recently the engagement was broken off, and Mr. Darling, despondent over the affair, decided to end his life, which he did in a tragic manner. Mr. Darling left no relatives, and so far as is known, no property other than the personal effects. He was a man of good habits; he attended carefully to his business; and was well liked by his associates. The body was removed to the Turnull undertaking parlors. Friends arranged for his burial which took place yesterday. Interment was made in Riverside Park cemetery. Henry Precht LIND - Mr. Henry Precht died at his home in Lind last Saturday. Death came as a result of a complete nervous breakdown and a paralytic stroke. A large crowd was in attendance at the funeral services conducted by the Rev. H. Wittrock at the German Lutheran church. Interment was made in the Lind cemetery. Mr. Precht was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1880. He came to this country some 12 years ago and settled in Illinois, where he made his home for two years. In 1905 he came to Washington and in the same year opened a blacksmith shop at Lind. He was eminently successful in his business, but hard work finally undermined his health and forced him last fall to retire. In 1907 he married Joanna Conrath, from which union five children, four boys and one girl, were born. Besides his wife and the children, he leaves a mother and brother in Germany to mourn his loss. Ida Melcher SCHRAG - Ida Melcher, who was badly burned about two weeks ago while burning thistles, died in Spokane last Saturday. Funeral services were held April 25, at the Heimbigner church and interment made in the cemetery near by. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, May 4, 1916, issue Mrs. Sarah Sutton Mrs. Sarah Sutton, whose funeral was held last Friday afternoon at the Sutton home on Michigan Prairie, eight miles east of Hatton, was one of the pioneer settlers of Adams county, and one of the most estimable women of the county. Her funeral was attended by scores of people from far and near who assembled to pay tribute by their presence to the general esteem of which she was held. Sarah Goodenough was born April 28, 1836, in the state of Michigan. She grew to womanhood in that state and received her education there. October 21, 1859, she was married to Levi L. Sutton. Four children were born to the union, all of whom have grown to be strong and useful citizens. They are Elmer G., of Seattle; Mrs. Ida B. Hackett, of Hatton; William J., of Cheney; Bryon L., of Seattle. In 187-(number missing) the family removed to Adams county, taking up a homestead in the south part of the county which has since been the family seat. L. L. Sutton died about nine years ago, but Mrs. Sutton continued to make her home there. Death came to end her long and active life Wednesday afternoon, April 26th. The funeral was held Friday afternoon, being conducted by Rev. Schreiber of Hatton, pastor of the M. E. church of which Mrs. Sutton had long been a member. The Ritzville chapter of the Eastern Star lodge conducted the Eastern Star service, Mrs. Sutton being a member of the chapter. A great many from this city drove over to attend the funeral. Interment was made in the Sutton cemetery. Besides her children, Mrs. Sutton leaves one brother, William Goodenough, who resides near Hatton. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, May 18, 1916, issue Top Of Head Blown Off Coroner W. F. Armann and Prosecuting Attorney W. O. Miller were called to Palouse Falls Tuesday to investigate the cause of death of Henry F. Fuhrman, whose body was found by neighbors Tuesday morning. Fuhrman was a man 56 years of age. He was a bachelor and lived alone in a shack on some property he owned. Death was caused by the discharge of a shotgun, the entire top of his head being blown off. The presumption is that he removed the gun from the case preparatory to cleaning it. He may not have known it was loaded, or the discharge may have taken place accidently. Mr. Fuhrman was a man well-to-do owning some property. He has a brother who is a printer in Spokane. The brother and his wife were planning to move down to Palouse Falls next week to live with their brother. Mrs. Katherine Ahlers Mrs. Katherin Ahlers, age 75, well known pioneer resident of Ritzville, died May 13th, 1916, at her home in this city, after a long and tediuos illness. Mrs. Ahlers was a pioneer homesteader of this place, having, with her husband, located on a quarter section near town in 1886, Mr. Ahlers dying three months later, and she was left to rear her family of six children, alone, among strangers in a strange land, in which she succeeded with credit to herself and them. Mrs. Ahlers was born near Oldenberg, Prussia, October 21st, 1840. She was married to Dietrich Ahlers in 1865 and seven children were born to them, two of whom are dead. Mr. and Mrs. Ahlers with two children immigrated to America in 1868, settling at Minonk, Illinois. Later they came to this state, where she has since resided. She leaves one son, Henry Ahlers, of Teigen, Montana, and four daughters, Mrs. Ed Allen and Mrs. Wm. Scheel of Ritzville; Mrs. Mattie Edwards of Tekoa, Washington, and Mrs. Rich Schank, of Delphos, Ohio. Eighteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren also survive. The funeral was held yesterday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the German Zion Congregational church. It was a union service, in German and English, Revs. Egerland, Gaiser and Whitmore, officiating. Dan Roloff Dead ODESSA - Daniel A. Roloff died at his home fifteen miles southwest of Odessa last Thursday morning, after an illness of twelve days with typhoid pneumonia. Mr. Roloff was forty-eight years of age at the time of his death. He was born in South Russia and emigrated to the United States in 1903, and ten years ago came to Washington and settled on the ranch on which he died. Funeral services were conducted at the Hoffensburg Congregational church Saturday afternoon, Rev. Albert Reimann of Odessa, officiating and the remains were interred in the church cemetery. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, June 15, 1916, issue J. H. McKelvey Tuesday morning at 3:00 o'clock occurred the death of Joseph H. McKelvey at his home in this city. Mr. McKelvey has been a sufferer from paralysis for several months and his death was not unexpected. The funeral will take place Friday morning at 10:30 at the Haight undertaking parlors. Rev. McDonald of Portland will officiate. A fuller obituary will be published next week. The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, June 22, 1916, issue S. Jos. McKelvey Samuel Joseph McKelvey was born October 24th, 1868, at Pinckneyville, Ill. He died June 13, 1916, at Ritzville, Wash., aged 47 years, 7 months, 16 days. He was married to Miss Minnie Clark, March 14, 1906, at Pinckneyville. They came to Ritzville the same year and have since resided here. Besides the widow there remains two brothers and one sister to mourn his death. They reside in Illinois. Mr. McKelvey was employed by the city for many years at the pumping station. Several months ago he was seized with paralysis and had gradually grown weaker. He was a member of the First Congregational church and of the I. O. O. F. and M. W. A. orders. The funeral was held Friday forenoon at the Haight undertaking parlors, conducted by Rev. A. N. McDonald, former pastor of the First Congregational church. The body was shipped to Cashmere where interment took place. John B. Mills John B. Mills died at his mother's home in Sprague on Wednesday, June 14th, 1916, of cancer of the lip, after an illness of about four years. The funeral was held Friday at 2:00 p.m., from the residence on Third St. F. W. Ridout of the Pentocostal church conducted the services. He was married in 1896 to Miss Lilly Buesy at Ritzville and two children were born to them, Wm. J., aged 19, and Dane C., aged 7. Mrs. Mills died in 1904 and in 1913 he again married, his widow surviving him. He also leaves a mother, 5 sisters and three brothers. The sisters are: Mrs. M. F. Woody, of Lentz, Oregon; Mrs. F. E. Brown, of Rufus, Oregon; Mrs. R. E. Lusby of North Yakima; Mrs. Susie Bunnell of Portland, and Mrs. Julia Rhodes of Sprague. The brothers are Dan W., James R., and Samuel L., all of Sprague. -Sprague Advocate The Washington State Journal and Ritzville Times, Thursday, June 29, 1916, issue Mrs. Lena Schroeder Last Saturday morning Mrs. Lena Schroeder passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Hattie Velvey, Spokane. Mrs. Schroeder was one of the old settlers of Ritzville and resided here until eight years ago when she moved to Spokane. There are many friends here who regret to learn of her death. The funeral was conducted Monday from the residence. The services were conducted by Rev. J. C. Mueller of Rosalia, formerly pastor of the German Methodist church here. Mrs. Caroline Baumann of Ritzville attended the funeral services. Mrs. Schroeder was the mother of six children, all of whom are living, Albert, Erwin, Hermann and Annie, and Lena and Hattie, both married. Ferdinand Ebener At the age of 73 years Ferdinand Ebener, known as one of the pioneers of Ritzville, died Saturday evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lena Elmore, of near Cheney. Mr. Ebener was a blacksmith and worked at his trade here for many years, giving up work a few years ago and going to live with his daughter. He was a man well respected and his long years of residence here gave him a wide acquaintance. Mr. Ebener was born in Daaden, Germany, January 11, 1842. He came to this country in 1886, settling in this place. While in Germany he was a soldier in the wars. For valorous conduct in battle he was awarded medals of honor, having served in the war between Germany and Austria and Bohemia in 1866-70 and during the Franco-Prussian war in 1870-71. The body was brought to Ritzville and the funeral was held Tuesday afternoon from the German Congregational church, conducted by Rev. F. Egerland. A large crowd attended the funeral out of tribute to Mr. Ebener. Two sons and three daughters survive: Charles, of Spokane; Emil, who is in South America; Mrs. Edith Nelson of Lead, South Dakota; Mrs. Hannah Beer, of Kennewick; Mrs. Lena Elmore of Cheney. A singular coincidence occurred in the death at the same hour of Mr. Nelson, Mr. Ebener's son-in-law, at Lead, South Dakota.