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 Journal-Times Thursday, July 1, 1920, issue George U. Williams George U. Williams died at the home of his son, S. J. Williams, five miles north of Ritzville, Wash., on June 24th, 1920, at 10 a.m. He was 72 years, one month and twelve days old. His death was unexpected. Feeling well in the morning and after enjoying a hearty breakfast there came a strange feeling and he thought best to lie down a few minutes. He did so and a short time later it was discovered that he was gone. He was born in Plymouth, Luzeran county, Penn., in the year 1848. His boyhood was spent on the Susquhanna Canal, driving a horse on the toe path. Later he engaged in farming in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and in the year 1906 he came to the state of Washington and settled at Baird. He made his home there until last fall when he retired from the farm and was planning on making his home in Ephrata. He was visiting his children before leaving for his new home when the end came. Though a cripple Mr. Williams succeeded as a farmer and demonstrated the value of courage and faithful service to a chosen life. When 33 years of age he was married to Gena Fickle of Melvera, Iowa. To them were born nine children. He is survived by S. J. Williams, C. R. Williams and Geo. Williams, C. E. Williams of Ritzville, Mrs. E. W. Nickel and Miss Lillie Williams of Baird, Wn., and his wife, besides the many friends and more distant relatives. Mr. Wiliams has been a life long member of the Methodist church. All who knew him mourn with the family his passing away. The Journal-Times Thursday, July 8, 1920, issue Pressly Fuson Pressly Fuson, a rancher near Tokio, and well known in Ritzville, passed away Tuesday evening at 6:30 o'clock in the Sacred Heart hospital at Spokane. He had been there several weeks and his death followed an operation on the intestines. The deceased, who was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. fuson, was 35 years of age when called by death. The Fuson family moved to Washington from the Dakotas twenty years ago, residing north of Spokane at first and later in the Ritzville vicinity. Mr. Fuson leaves a wife and three small children, two boys and a girl. His three brothers, Elwa, Hugh and Floyd, with his wife, were present at the time he passed away. He also leaves to mourn his loss two other brothers, one in Wyoming, and one in South Dakota, a sister, Mrs. Ray Young and his parents. Mr. Fuson had never entirely recovered from an operation for appendicitis and has been ailing for years. Stomach and intestinal trouble seemed to result from the operation. Hope for his recovery was general, however, when he left for the hospital in June and his death comes as a shock to his many friends here. The funeral is to be held in Spokane today. Mrs. George Kuntz HATTON-After a lingering illness of over two years, Mrs. George Kuntz passed away at the ranch ome seven miles west of town Friday, July 2, at the age of eighty-four years and three months. She had been cared for together with her aged husband through all these weary months, by her devoted son Ed, who has kept constant vigil and in whose arms she breathed her last. The Journal-Times Thursday, July 15, 1920, issue Fletcher D. Seaman Friends here of Mrs. Sophia Keller Seaman will learn with regret the death of her husband, Fletcher D. Seaman, which occurred Wednesday evening, July 7th. He was killed by a train while crossing the track returning from a neighbors. The family resides at Janesville, Minn. It is presumed that he was driving along and his mind was preoccupied so that he did not notice the approaching train. The news of his death reached the Journal-Times in a letter from one of the friends of the family. At the time of writing the funeral arrangements were not completed, plans being indefinite until the arrival of Mr. Seaman's children. Mrs. Seaman will be remembered as Mrs. Keller, the mother of E. D. Gilson. She was the first woman to locate in what is now Ritzville, coming here in about 1879. She made her home here for a great many years. On July 6, 1919, she was married to Mr. Seaman at Coeur d'Alene, and went to Janesville to reside. Young Man Killed By Train At Lind Last Saturday morning a sad accident occurred at Lind when Norman Carter, a seventeen year old youth, was killed by being struck by the engine of passenger train No. 333 on the Northern Pacific. The young man had stepped off the track and thought he was clear of the train when part of the engine struck him, breaking his neck. Mr. Carter had come from his home at Vancouver to work in this county in the harvest. His father, who is an employee of the S. P. & S. at Vancouver, was notified and he came at once to take charge of the body. The remains were shipped to Maryhill, in Klickitat County, for interment. Another sad feature is the fact that this is the fourth fatal accident that has occurred with the same engineer. Others were Mr. Wood and Mr. Reeder at Lind, and Mr. Wm Goodenough at Hatton. In each case the fatality was accidental, but the engineer feels deeply, it is reported, that he has been unwitting agent in so many fatalities. The Journal-Times Thursday, July 29, 1920, issue D. C. Barronett Daniel C. Barronett, one of the early settlers of Ritzville, passed away at his home in Spokane on Tuesday, July 27th. Local people did not know of his illness. He was down here a little over two months ago, greeting old friends in his usual hearty manner and showing no signs of failing health. Mr. Barronett conducted the first warehouse in Ritzville and was the first grain buyer. He lived here for 31 years but a few years ago removed to Spokane to spend his declining years. Mr. Barronett was thrifty and had the foresight to invest in good Adams county land. At the time of his death he owned a ranch near Lind, having sold nearly two years ago a quarter section south of Ritzville to Will Scheel. He was 78 years old at the time of his death. Surviving relatives are his wife, two sons, Earl and Marlin, and two daughters, Opal of Spokane, and Mrs. Edna Starr of Hanford, California. Funeral services were held at the Liberty Park M. E. church, Spokane, this morning, and according to an announcement in the Spokane papers, interment is to be made at the Ritzville cemetery following services here at 3:00 o'clock this afternoon. David W. Circle David W. Circle, for many years a resident of Keystone, passed away last Saturday, July 24th, at the Myrtle Hospital, Sprague, following an operation for appendicitis. Mr. Circle was long a well known figure of the Keystone community and his going away will come as a shock to his many friends and acquaintances. Mr. Circle was born in Virginia December 7, 1864, and was at the time of his death aged 55 years, 7 months and 17 days. The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the M. E. church at Sprague, conducted by the pastor. The interment was made in the Maccabee cemetery, Sprague. Deceased leaves to mourn his death a wife and seven children. One of his children was a lieutenant in the aviation service during the war. A loyal American, one devoted to the upbuilding of his community, especially interested in maintaining good schools, Mr. Circle will be greatly missed in his neighborhood. Mrs. Carmody Dies HATTON-Word was received this week of the death of Mrs. Carmody at her home in Seattle. She leaves a family of eight children, besides here husband, sister and brothers, to mourn her loss. Mrs. Carmody will be remembered as Mrs. Dr. A. V. Marion's sister, who visited here at one time. The Journal-Times Thurday, August 5, 1920, issue Daniel C. Barronett The last sad rites in honor of D. C. Barronett, who died last week in Spokane, were held at the cemetery in the city of Ritzville last Thursday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Ellis B. Harris of Spokane. The funeral party drove down from Spokane. Daniel C. Barronett was born in Peoria County, Ill., May 20, 1848, and died at his home in Spokane July 27, 1920. At the age of 20 he removed to Nebraska and was there united in marriage to Miss Harriet Eliza Doty. Coming west they located at Waitsburg, Wash., for about three months, and on Dec. 25, 1888, settled in Ritzville, which remained the family home until 1907, when with advancing years, Mr. Barronett retired and removed to Spokane. Eight children were born to the union, but only three are living. They are Mrs. Edna Starr of Hanford, Cal., Earl of Marlin, Wash., and Miss Opal of Spokane. In 1905 Mrs. Barronett died, and shortly thereafter Mr. Barronett married his brother's widow, Mrs. Thurza A. Barronett, who survives him. At Ritzville Mr. Barronett engaged in the grain and warehouse business. He bought a half interest in the business that had been started by Mr. Whittlesey, their warehouse being the westerly part of what is now the O'Neil Grain Company's warehouse on Division street. Subsequently two additions were built which are still standing. Investing in farm lands at an early date Mr. Barronett lived to see them reach considerable value. His estate is estimated at $60,000 according to the will filed in Spokane County for probate. The widow is left the family home in Spokane and $2000; a gift of $20 each is made to the stepchildren; and the remainder of the estate is to be divided among his children. The Journal-Times Thursday, August 12, 1920, issue Former Ritzville Merchant Dies In California I. W. Myers, a former prominent business man of Ritzville, died in a hospital at Long Beach, Cal., on Monday morning of this week, the word reaching here in a message to W. R. Peters. A few days before his death Mr. Myers wandered from his home and it was two days before relatives found him in a hospital where he had been taken. The exposure doubtless hastened his death, though Mr. Myers has been in poor health for a good many years. From his friends and former associates here, The Journal-Times is able to present a brief sketch of the deceased. He was born in Pennsylvania and was at the time of his death about 57 or 58 years of age. He came west as a young man, locating first at Sprague, where he worked for Charles Gilpin, a merchant. Mr. Gilpin later opened a store here and Mr. Myers was sent here to manage it. Along about 1890 came the Sprague fire, which rendered homeless the Gilpin store in that town. Mr. Myers and Mr. C. E. Shipman, who was clerking for Mr. Gilpin at Sprague, then contracted to buy the Gilpin stocks at both towns and combine them in the store at Ritzville under the name of Myers and Shipman. While the young men were virtually without funds for so large an enterprise, backed by Mr. Gilpin's credit and influence and with their own diligent efforts they built up a larger business, discharged their obligation to Mr. Gilpin and continued under the firm name for nearly a decade. About 1901 Mr. Shipman retired form the firm and in 1903 the store was incorporated as Myers-Shepley Co., which title is retained today. In 1913 Mr. Myers was forced through failing health to retire from business. He sold his interest in the store to his partners but retained the store building still occupied by the company, until his death. He removed to Portland and lived there until a few years ago when he removed to Long Beach. Nervous troubles caused by his overwork and close application to his business affected him. While apparently well and strong his mind could no longer stand the strain of steady work. During his residence here he was united in marriage to Miss Kennedy, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Kennedy, pioneer farmers near here. The Kennedys, who later lived in Wenatchee, have been in Long Beach for some months. Mr. Myers was a Mason and also it is thought a member of the local lodge Knights of Pythias. His death has removed one of the leading figures in the mercantile history of Ritzville during the years of its growth from a small frontier village to a substantial city. Wales Parsons Residents of Ritzville will be interested in the account of the death of Wales Parsons, who resided here as a boy. He was the son of Mrs. Blanche Parsons, who ran a millinery store here a good many years ago. She later lived in Pasco and now is Mrs. C. D. Miller, wife of a Connell merchant. The following is taken from the Pasco Herald: "On Monday morning, Aug. 2, at 8:30 a.m. occurred the death of Wales Parsons. Death resulted from pneumonia developed following an operation for acute appendicitis and complications, performed about ten days before. On the 22nd of July he was seized suddenly while at work in his step-father's meat market and brought to Pasco that same afternoon and an operation performed that evening. His condition was very critical right from the start but for a few days he seemed to be improving but the pneumonia was more than he could throw off. "Wales, who lacked just one month of being 19 years of age, was the only child of Mrs. C. D. Miller. He was born at Kirkland, Wash. With his mother he spent the last few years at Ritzville, Pasco and the past three months at Connell, assisting his step-father, C. D. Miller. The remains were taken to Seattle Tuesday night and on Wednesday laid to rest besides his father." The Journal-Times Thursday, August 26, 1920, issue O. G. Harding O. G. Harding, who has been a resident of this county for the past 26 years, died suddenly at his farm home near Lind last Friday morning. The cause was thought to be heart failure or apoplexy for he had been well and active up to the time of his death. With his sons C. F. and Harold, he was busy at harvest and arose early Friday morning and called the boys. When they got up they found their father had passed away. Mrs. Harding was in Spokane where the family has had a home for the past two years. The body was sent to Spokane and funeral services were held there Wednesday. Interment was made in the cemetery there. As none of the family are here now the Journal-Times can publish only a limited obituary of Mr. Harding. He was 55 years old and was one of the substantial farmers of the county, operating a large ranch in the Rattlesnake Flat country. He was noble grand of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Lind. The family, when the children were old enough to attend high school, moved to Ritzville and later to Spokane. Mr. Harding is survived by his wife and six children: C. Fred Harding of Lind; Dr. J. E. Harding, a dentist of Wenatchee; Mrs. Ruth Donley, Hazel and Gladys and Harold of Spokane. The Journal-Times Thursday, September 2, 1920, issue Mrs. Henry Roth Mrs. Henry Roth, wife of a well known farmer in the Ralston country, passed away last Thursday afternoon after an illness of some duration. The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the German Congregational church at Ralston and were conducted by Rev. G. F. Keppler of Ralston. Interment was made in the cemetery by the church. Mrs. Roth was born in South Russia Feb. 6, 1874. She was married to Gottfried Kison and to this union were born seven children of whom two died in childhood. The family came to Washington in 1902. Mr. Kison died in 1905 and in 1907 Mrs. Kison was married to Henry Roth, who with four children by this marriage survive. The children of the first marriage who are living are John Kison of Ritzville; Mrs. Bertha Cathy of Spokane; Mrs. William Roloff of Ralston, and Reinholt Kison of Ralston. The children by the second union are Matilda, Otto, Albert and Rudolph. Mrs. John Eckhardt Mrs. John Eckhardt passed away in the hospital in Spokane Tuesday night. The remains were brought to Ritzville last night. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock at the Philadelphia church. A full obituary will appear next week. The Journal-Times Thursday, September 9, 1920, issue Called To Pomeroy Mrs. Henry Woehr was called to Pomeroy last Thursday by word of the death of her brother, Frank Hender, which took place Wednesday. He was 56 years of age and was survived by his wife and one son in the immediate family. Funeral services were held Saturday. Mr. Hender at one time resided in this county. Mrs. Woehr returned home Sunday night. Mrs. John Eckhardt A large congregation of people gathered at the Philadelphia Congregational church last Friday afternoon to attend the funeral of Mrs. John Eckhardt, who passed away in Spokane early Wednesday morning of last week. Rev. Jacob Morach, pastor of the church, preached the funeral sermon. Interment was made in the Ritzville cemetery. Anna Margareta Hein was born December 12, 1859, at Frank, North Russia. In 1882 she was married to John Eckhardt. The family came to America in 1893, residing three years at Lincoln, Nebraska, and six years at Walla Walla and in Adams county from 1902 on. They resided on a farm near Ritzville until the death of their only son two years ago when they removed to town and built a new home in which to spend their declining years. To the union were born six daughters and one son. Three daughters died in Russia and one son, John, died of influenza in October 1918. Three daughters living are Margareta Wellsandt, Mrs. Fred Bastron and Miss Pauline Eckhardt. Mrs. Eckhardt was subjected to much suffering and pain, being trouble with gall stones. The operation which she underwent proved fatal and she passed away in the first hour of the 1st of September being 60 years, 8 months and 18 days. Dirstine Dead HATTON-Elias Dirstine, for many years an honored citizen of this end of the county, passed away at his home in Lind Friday, Sept. 3, after a lingering illness of several months. This death makes the last of six old settlers of the Hatton country who came here about thirty years ago and endured the hardships of pioneer life. The remains were brought down from Lind Sunday and placed by the side of his wife, Isabella Sutton Dirstine, in the Michigan Prairie cemetery. The Journal-Times Thursday, September 16, 1920, issue David Kuhn David Kuhn, a rancher living between Ralston and Lind, died of typhoid-pneumonia at his home yesterday morning at two o'clock. His wife and daughter are both ill of the disease. While funeral arrangements have not been completed present plans call for the funeral this Sunday at the Downey church near the late home, with burial in the cemetery near by.