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 ==================================================================== Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, January 3, 1929, issue Carl Cordes Flu Victim Carl Cordes, aged 31, was the third victim of the influenza epidemic in the Odessa country. He died at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cordes, Sr., early Saturday morning after an illness of only two weeks. Three times after contracting the disease Carl rallied and his condition improved so he was able to get up. With his third relapse he developed pneumonia after which he grew steadily worse until death came to relieve his suffering. He was born at Lake City, Minn., May 14, 1897. In the year 1898 his parents moved to Washington, settling near Ritzville where they resided until 1900, when they took up a homestead south of Lauer, where Carl grew to manhood and received his education in the public schools. He never married, but made his home with his parents, who 11 years ago left the farm and came to Odessa to retire from active farm work. In 1918 he enlisted in the U. S. army at Fort Wright and was later transferred to Camp Lewis, where his period of service terminated with the signing of the armistice. He was a member of the local American Legion Post and also captain of the degree team of the Odessa Modern Woodmen camp. He is survived by his parents, six sisters, Mrs. John Kuppers, Mohler; Mrs. Peter Luiten, Mrs. L. L. Zicha and Miss Martha Cordes, Odessa; Mrs. G. J. Luiten, Edwall; Mrs. George Zicha, Kennewick; and five brothers, William, Thornton; Henry Jr., Ritzville, Rudolph, who is the United States navy, stationed at San Diego, Calif.; John and H. G. Cordes, Odessa. His funeral services were held at the English Congregational church on Monday, Rev. George E. Glasspool officiating, after which burial took place in the family lot at the Odessa cemetery. -Odessa Record Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, January 10, 1929, issue Lose Infant Son David John Wahl, 15-day-old son of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Wahl of Lind, died the last of the week. The body was brought to the Haight mortuary parlors at Ritzville and burial was in the Lind cemetery on Sunday afternoon. Father of County Agent Woodward Dies of Stroke County Agent N. F. Woodward received word Monday evening of the death of his father, A. F. Woodward, pioneer Whitman county resident, at Oakesdale. Mr. Woodward, who incidentally was a Ritzville visitor during the past summer, suffered a stroke of apoplexy a week ago and had been unconscious since. He came to Whitman county in 1889 and had been engaged in farming until 1915, when he retired. The deceased was 78 years of age. The funeral and interment was held Wednesday at Latah. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward drove to Oakesdale on Tuesday morning and will be gone until the 18th of this month. Sister of C. E. Cox Passes C. E. Cox received word Saturday by telegram of the death of his sister, head nurse at St. Francis' hospital at Gary, Ind. As he had received a Christmas message from his sister but a few days previous and she was then in the best of health, the shock of her death was severe. Owing to the fact that Mrs. Cox's health is so poor, Mr. Cox will be unable to attend the funeral. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, January 17, 1929, issue Death Summons Adams Matrons Mrs. W. C. Schellenger, Ralston, and Mrs. Peter McGregor, Hooper, Pass Away In Spokane This Week-Both Funerals Held Today Mrs. Kathryn Schellenger, 43, wife of W. C. Schellenger, Ralston merchant, passed away at the Sacred Heart hospital, Spokane, at 10 a.m. MOnday, of chronic heart trouble. Mrs. Schellenger was well known throughout the Ralston district, where she made her home, and although she had lived in Adams county for less than five years, she had endeared herself to her many friends. For some time Mrs. Schellenger had been the Journal-Times Ralston correspondent, which post she handled in a very capable and efficient manner until she was taken in her last illness several weeks ago. Surviving the deceased are her husband, W. C. Schellenger, of Ralston; two daughters, Kathryn Pearl, attending the University of Washington at Seattle, and Helen Ruth of Ralston; two sons, Charles C. and Henry W.; a sisters, Mrs. H. H. Bittner of Seattle; and a brother, August Hohmann of South Dakota. Funeral services were held in Spokane this morning at 8:15 o'clock from Our Lady of Lourdes cathedral. Mrs. Maude McGregor Mrs. Maud McGregor, 55, wife of Peter McGregor, widely known pioneer land and livestock man of the Hooper district, passed away Tuesday evening at the Deaconess hospital in Spokane as the result of complications developing into pneumonia. The deceased had been in poor health for some time, her first acute illness occurring during the past summer while she was accompanying her husband to the republican national convention in Kansas City, where he was a Washington delegate. Although her health began to fail rapidly following her return from the convention, Mrs. McGregor was not considered to be in an alarming condition until she entered the Deaconess hospital three weeks ago. Maud Taylor McGregor was born Sept. 8, 1874, at Albany, Ore., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Taylor, original settlers of Albany. Her family moved from Albany to Milton, Ore., in 1879, and in 1881 to Dayton, Wash., and finally to Hooper in 1884, where they homesteaded. On Oct. 23, 1892, she was united in marriage to Peter McGregor of Hooper. Her sister, Minnie Taylor, also married into the McGregor family, taking as her husband John McGregor, who passed away several years ago. At Hooper the McGregors established and expanded what has come to be known as one of the largest livestock and farming operations in the West, comprising a 40,000-acre estate. In 1908 Peter McGregor retired from active management of the estate and moved with his family to Spokane, where they resided until their return to the ranch in 1925. Surviving the deceased are her husband, Peter McGregor; her father, A. Taylor; Mrs. Minnie McGregor of Portland, a sister; John M. McGregor, a son, manager of the McGregor Land and Livestock company of Hooper; Alex T. McGregor, a son, manager of the Taylor Land and Livestock company of Hooper. With the exception of Mrs. Minnie McGregor, the sister in Portland, who is confined to her home there under the care of a nurse, all of the immediate family were at the beside of Mrs. McGregor during her fatal illness. Funeral services were held today from Smith & Company's chapel. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, January 24, 1929, issue "Flu" Takes Jacob Saylor Jacob Saylor, 71, half brother of David Saylor, who has been a well known figure in Ritzville for the past 22 years, died Saturday morning, Jan. 19, from the effects of influenza combined with old age. Mr. Saylor was born in Russia in 1858. In 1884 he immigrated to America with a colony of Russian-German farmers, settling in the Dakotas. In 1907 the family moved to Ritzville, where they have lived since. Jacob was a silent, self-contained person who lived a secluded life and was consequently not well known beyond the immediate neighborhood in which he resided. During his residence in Ritzville he was associated with his brother David in farming and in conducting a junk business. The funeral was held at the M. G. Haight mortuary chapel on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 19. Interment was in the Ritzville cemetery. The deceased is survived by his half brother, David Saylor of Ritzville, a nephew, Daniel Saylor of San Francisco, and a niece, Clara Saylor, also living in San Francisco. James Wilson James Wilson, 75, who for 12 years had been a resident of Ritzville, died at the E. L. Allen hospital on Friday, Jan. 18, at 4 p.m. Mr. Wilson suffered a paralytic stroke Christmas night. Although the deceased has always preserved a strict silence with regard to his past, it is known that he was a native of Connecticut and that he has never been married. No known relatives survive. After his coming to Ritzville in 1917 he had supported himself by doing odd jobs, including dishwashing at Lan's Cafe and janitor work in the Grand barber shop, where he lived. Prior to his death, Mr. Wilson appointed Wilson L. Weber, proprietor of the Grand barber shop, as his administrator. The funeral was held from the Haight mortuary parlors at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, the Rev. W. G. R. Dann officiating. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Contrary to general belief, Mr. Wilson was not cared for at county expense during his last illness, nor was his burial conducted by the county, as his estate was sufficient to cover all debts incurred. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, January 31, 1929, issue Three Local Men Taken By Death Conrad Schafer, Magnus Norman and Otis Leonard, all long residents of county, succumb during week, following extended illness Conrad Schafer, 72, for 38 years a resident and one of the builders of the rich farming section of Adams county in the vicinity of Ritzville, passed away at the family home here at 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, after a long illness resulting from a combination of paralysis and blood poisoning. Mr. Schafer was born in Russia Oct. 6, 1856. In 1877 he emigrated to America, settling in the vicinity of Lincoln, Neb. After marrying, he left Culbertson, Neb., for Washington, where he settled near Bickleton, Klickitat county. In 1891 he moved with his family to Ritzville, and, taking a homestead, became known as one of the prominent wheat growers. Twenty-one years ago, however, Mr. Schafer retired from active management of his farming interests and turned the labor over to his sons. In addition to his widow, Mrs. Anna Elizabeth Schafer, four sons survive the deceased - Conrad, Henry, Joe and Elmer, all of Ritzville - and a daughter, Mrs. Anna Oestreich, also of Ritzville. A half-brother, Henry Schafer, and a half-sister, Mrs. Peter Schierman, reside at Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada. Pending funeral arrangements to be made after word was received from the Canadian relatives, the body was at rest in the Haight mortuary parlors. The funeral was held this afternoon from the Philadelphia Congregational church, Rev. H. Neutzmann officiating. Interment was in Ritzville cemetery. Magnus Norman Magnus Norman, 72, for many years exchange manager in Ritzville for the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph company, died at his home here Tuesday following an illness extending over a year. Death was attributed to a paralytic stroke. For many weeks after he was stricken, Mr. Norman was in a Spokane hospital, his condition improving to such an extent that he was able to be brought home. Since then he suffered many relapses, recovered sufficiently on several occasions last summer to walk down town, but in recent weeks he failed rapidly. Following Mr. Norman's illness, Mrs. Norman assumed the duties as manager of the exchange, which position she now holds. Nr. Norman was born Nov. 26, 1857, at Grarmach, Sweden, the son of Magnus and Martha (Erickson) Norman. At the age of 15 the deceased emigrated to America, coming to Carver, Minn. At the age of 17 he entered Gustavus Adolphus college, St. Peter, Minn. Following completion of the college course, Mr. Norman became purchasing agent for the St. Peter State hospital, which post he occupied for 22 years. On Aug. 28, 1892, Mr. Norman married Harriet A. Wilfert of Cleveland, Minn. For 10 years the couple resided at St. Peter, until 1902, when they moved to Wenatchee, Wash. In August, 1907, they moved to Ritzville, where they have since resided. There are no children. Funeral services will be held from the Emanuel Lutheran church, Rev. E. A. Rein officiating, Friday at 10 a.m. The body will be shipped to Spokane for interment in Riverside cemetery. Otis Leonard Otis Leonard, pioneer Adams county farmer, but who in recent years had made his home in Ritzville, passed away Tuesday night in Spokane, according to word received here. The body will be shipped to Ritzville but no funeral arrangements have as yet been made. Mr. Leonard underwent an operation for appendicitis several weeks ago, and for a time it was thought he would recover, but complications developed, ending in death. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, February 7, 1929, issue Ground to Death By Train Wheels Edward Clodius, 42, killed near Ritzville and body discovered following day - resided in this community for many years. The body of Edward Clodius, 42, for many years a rancher in the Ritzville and Odessa regions, was found, badly mutilated, on the Northern Pacific tracks near Essig station, south of Ritzville at 4:12 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 3. Discovery of the body was first made by members of the train crew of the west bound local No. 333. At Paha the trainmen sent word to Ritzville, reporting the place of the casualty. Coroner R. B. Ott, accompanied by Sheriff Joe Schafer and Deputy Melven Oestreich, at once responded. Identification of the corpse was made by Deputy Oestreich. Search of the dead man's clothing revealed a note, apparently written some time before and carried in his pocket, intimating that he contemplated suicide. Since the note requested his relatives not to search for the body and also as the evidence gathered by the coroner and sheriff point to an accident, it is improbable that Mr. Clodius died in an attempt at self-destruction, but that he met his end by slipping, while numbed, from a swiftly moving passenger or freight train. He was last seen in Ritzville on Friday afternoon. What train he boarded, or the time of his so doing, is not known. Frederic Edward Clodius was born Aug. 9, 1887, in Jefferson county, Neb. In the spring of 1906 he came to Adams county, where he was engaged in ranching near Ritzville and in the Odessa vicinity for many years. In February, 1914, he was married to his first wife, Augusta (Sickmann) Clodius. One child, a son, Harry, survives this union. Mrs. Clodius died in 1920. A second wife, Mrs. Emma Clodius, obtained an interlocutory decree of divorce and custody of the children, Harry and a daughter, Leone, in the latter part of January of this year. Surviving the deceased are his father, William Clodius, Sr., two brothers, William, Jr., and Henry both of Ritzville; three sisters, Mrs. Joe Oestreich, Ritzville; Mrs. Frank Sellars, Ritzville, and Mrs. A. C. Clemie of Kelso, and the two children, Harry and Leone. Burial was made in the Ritzville cemetery at 10 a.m. Tuesday from the Haight mortuary parlors, Rev. W. G. R. Dann officiating at a simple burial service at the graveside, in deference to the expressed wishes of the deceased. Otis Leonard Funeral services for Otis Leonard, age 52, pioneer rancher of the Ralston district, who passed away at the Sacred Heart hospital, Spokane, at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, were held from the M. E. church, Ritzville, on Sunday, Feb. 3, Rev. W. G. R. Dann officiating. Interment was in the Bemis cemetery on Rattlesnake Flat, near the scene of his life's activities. Otis Leonard was born near Coffeyville, Kan., in 1877. At an early age he came to Adams county, homesteading in the vicinity of Ralston. On Dec. 25, 1895, Mr. Leonard married Miss Dora Shaw at Ritzville. For many years the deceased devoted himself entirely to wheat raising, his sons co-operating with him in later years. A few years ago the family moved to Washtucna, and nearly a year ago came to Ritzville, where the family now resides, and where Mr. Leonard lived until the time of his last illness, some three months ago. His death was the result of complications arising from a case of appendicitis occurring about Thanksgiving of last year. Blood poisoning set in and Mr. Leonard lingered for many weeks between life and death at the Sacred Heart hospital. Surviving the deceased are his widow, Mrs. Dora Leonard, 10 children, four sisters and one brother. The children include six sons, Carl and Robert, residing in Colorado, Raymond, Wayne and Howard of Ritzville, and four daughters, Mrs. Edward Kinzel of San Francisco, Mrs. Virgil Sitton of Ritzville and Margaret and Faith, also of this city. The surviving sisters are Mrs. George Snyder of San Francisco, Mrs. James Harding, residing in Oregon, Mrs. Lucy Herring, also living in Oregon, and Miss Maude Leonard of Palo Alto, Calif. A brother, Will Leonard, lives in Montana. Lying beside Mr. Leonard in the Bemis cemetery are his father, mother, brother and sister, all of whom came to Adams county after Mr. Leonard's arrival here. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, February 14, 1929, issue Crider Daughter OTHELLO - The 15-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Crider (Wanza) was buried Friday in the Adams cemetery. Rev. L. E. Taber conducted the services at the Christian church, which was packed to the doors, their friends thereby showing their deep sympathy for the bereaved parents. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, February 21, 1929, issue Father of Mrs. R. McFarland Dies of Paralytic Stroke Mr. and Mrs. R. D. McFarland were called to Spokane Tuesday to attend the funeral of Mrs. McFarland's father, B. U. Gale, who passed away Monday at a sanatorium in that city. Mr. Gale, who was 59 years of age, had been a resident of Washington for nearly 40 years, and was at one time an employee of the Washington Water Power company. For the past 18 months he had been spending much of his time with his daughter in Ritzville. The deceased had been in ill health for some time, having suffered a stroke over a year ago. Since then he had been in ill health until the time of his death. He is survived by two sons, R. A. and A. P. Gale of Spokane, and his daughter, Mrs. R. D. McFarland of Ritzville. The funeral was held Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 3 p.m. from the Hazen Jaeger chapel. Interment was in Fairmount cemetery, Spokane. Jacob Krehbiel LIND-Jacob Krehbiel, aged 67, an old-time pioneer, and local manager of the Milwaukee Grain company of Lind, died Saturday night, Feb. 16, at 10:30 o'clock. He had been seriously sick since February 9 and under the care of Dr. Sweet of Ritzville and Dr. Henderson of Lind. Brief services were held at the family home on Tuesday at 12 noon, and the regular funeral services the same afternoon from the Mennonite church. Interment was in Mennonite cemetery. He was one of the town's most prominent citizens and the loss is deeply felt by his many friends and his family. When he came to Lind in 1898 he farmed until the fall of 1907. He moved to town in 1910 owing to poor health. He is survived by his wife, three sons, Harry, Arthur and Robert; three daughters, Elsie, Ruby and Rose; one daughter-in-law, one granddaughter, three brothers and four sisters. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, February 28, 1929, issue Pioneer Harness Man Dies Suddenly This Afternoon L. Butsch, 64, pioneer harness man of Ritzville, who had been a resident here for nearly 35 years, died suddenly this afternoon at his home. Mr. Butsch was taken ill Wednesday afternoon of heart trouble, the cause of his demise. No further information was available at 3 o'clock. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, March 7, 1929, issue Miss Gladys Johnston Died Today in Spokane Miss Gladys Johnston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Johnston of Ritzville, passed away at noon today at the Deaconess hospital, Spokane, following a long illness resulting from cancer. Miss Johnston had been ill for nearly a year, and following a trip to Mayo brothers last spring, she suffered from the malady throughout the summer. Shortly after Christmas she was taken to the Deaconess hospital, where she lingered in a critical condition until her death. Lewis Butsch Lewis Butsch, 62, for 30 years a resident of Ritzville, died at 2:55 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at his home on College Hill. He had been suffering from heart trouble for some time and this was the cause of his death. Mr. Butsch was born Oct. 20, 1866, at Rochester, Minn. In 1888 he came to Washington, settling near Everett. In 1899 he moved to Ritzville, where he became associated with D. A. Peters, formerly manager of a harness shop here, and at one time mayor of Ritzville, in the harness and leather business. With the removal of Mr. Peters to California in 1923, Mr. Butsch took over the shop, which he had since conducted. The deceased had always lived an active life and had never been in ill health until last October, when the heart trouble which proved fatal first appeared. Surviving Mr. Butsch are his widow, three sons, one daughter, three sisters and three brothers. The children include Russell, now professor of education at the University of Chicago; Willard, of Ritzville; Clinton of Everett, and Ruth of Ritzville. The sisters are Mrs. Boody, Mrs. Livvy and Mrs. Berry, and three brothers, Carl, Will and Edward Butsch, all residing on the coast. The funeral was held Sunday from the M. E. church, Ritzville, the Rev. W. G. R. Dann officiating. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, March 14, 1929, issue Gertrude Miller Gertrude, the 13-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Miller, passed away suddenly last evening at the family home in Ritzville from an attack of ptomaine poisoning. The child had just been brought home two days before from Spokane, where she had undergone an operation for appendicitis. No funeral arrangements had been made this morning. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, March 21, 1929, issue Gertrude Miller Funeral services for 13-year-old Gertrude Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Miller, were held from the Emanuel Lutheran church at 2 p.m. Sunday, Rev. E. A. Rein officiating. Gertrude was 13 years, 10 months and 14 days old on the day of her death, Wednesday, March 13. She was born in Ritzville and attended the public schools here, where she was in the seventh grade. Three weeks ago she was taken to Spokane for an operation for appendicitis. She recovered in good condition and was brought home to Ritzville two days before her death. Death came as a result of acute ptomaine poisoning from infected peaches.