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, April 3, 1930, issue Insane Man Suicides After Terrorizing Community Luke Leon, Fearing Imaginary Foes, Locks Himself In Car And Take Own Life As Officer Appears-Survived First Attempt Last Winter Armed with a 32-20 revolver and barricading himself in his Chevrolet coupe at Cunningham early Wednesday morning, Luke Leon, Washtucna, trapper and rancher, after spreading terror throughout the night, ended his life by placing two bullets near his heart. Leon had been staying with his nephew, Nick Jutas, and family at Cunningham for the last month. The man had been unbalanced for some time, imagining that people were after him. Tuesday night Leon went completely insane, started threatening his nephew with a large revolver, but where he got the weapon no one knows. Leon spent the night driving around and had the people terrorized. Wednesday morning his nephew found him in his car, but he refused to leave and as soon as Kutas had the revolver flourished in his face in a threatening manner, Leon remarking that he would never be taken alive, the nephew got away and phoned here. Deputy Oestreich responded and at Cunningham, Walter Morach who was working on a road crew, was deputized, being the only one of a number of men who volunteered to accompany the deputy. Driving to where Leon was seated in his car, Oestreich walked up to Leon and talked to him for half an hour, trying to reason with the occupant, but realizing that he had a crazy man to deal with. Leon had his revolver in his lap, partially covered with a coat. Leon then tried to get the deputy to turn his back by asking "Pete" to "bring a book from over there." Thinking that Leon only wanted him to turn his back, Oestreich backed away and then sent to Ritzville for tear bombs, not wishing to harm the man if he could be taken otherwise. Leon had lowered one of the windows in the door toward "Pete" and the latter with his eyes turned from the car an instant heard a shot. The officer uncertain whether he was the target or not, pulled his own gun, and fired two shots, but both were below the car seat level, and did not stike Leon. The latter then shot again and it developed that he was pumping the bullets into his own body. Leon then opened the door, slumped over the steering wheel, his hands partially extended through the door. The officer ran and grabbed the man, and Ed Tesch, special deputy, and Highway Patrolman Buehler, arrived and helped load the wounded man in the officer's car. After starting toward Ritzville, Leon recovered sufficiently from the shock to put up a vicious fight with Oestreich, who was holding the man in the back seat. The official car headed for Lind but Leon died just as they were entering town. The body was brought to Ritzville where an inquest and autopsy will be held Friday. Leon is the man for whom an extended search was made last winter when he disappeared from his place at Palouse Falls, where he was a trapper and rancher. After a two-day hunt, Leon was found with his throat slashed, a gaping wound in his jaw where he had shot himself and three self-inflicted wounds in his chest. Leon was brought to Ritzville hospital more dead than alive. Later he contracted pneumonia from exposure. In spite of the combination of three sets of wounds and the pneumonia, he recovered and had been staying with the nephew most of the time since. Leon is an Italian, about 50 years of age, unmarried, and lived in the Washtucna district for a number of years. O. E. W. Belson Ozanne Eugene Woolbert Belson of Lind was born at Philadelphia, Pa., on September 11, 1854, and died at Lind on March 27, 1930, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. H. Minon, the only surviving member of the family. The funeral was held from the Haight chapel Saturday afternoon, Rev. Harry Post, Episcopal pastor of Spokane conducting the service. Interment was in the Ritzville cemetery. Mr. Belson had been a member of the Episcopal faith for many years, the Easter mite box originating in his home church at Lower Merion, Pa., one of the historic Episcopal churches in this country. Wm. T. Ivey Mrs. N. F. Woodward received a telegram Tuesday evening telling of the death that day of her father, Wm. T. Ivey, at the home of another daughter, Mrs. H. V. Martin at Bellevue, a suburb of Seattle. Mr. Ivey was born in Cornwall, England, January 17, 1854. He came to America while a young man and resided for a time in Iowa. He had been a resident of Seattle since 1890. Mr. Ivey came to Ritzville in 1927 and made his home with the Woodwards for about a year. In addition to two daughters, he leaves one son, Horace of Bellevue and ten grandchildren. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 10, 1930, issue Othello Pioneer Dies Here Wm. Gibson, 79, who resided in the Othello district for 29 years, was brought to the Allen hospital by the county, and he passed away Monday. Funeral arrangements were still pending this morning. The deceased left no relatives and he had been making his home at a hotel in Othello for a long time. Frederick Thiel Frederick Thiel was born in Culbertson, Nebraska, December 18, 1877, and died at the home of his sister, Mrs. E. J. Colwell, in Ritzville, Friday, April 4, following a two months' illness. Mr. Thiel came to Ritzville with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Thiel in 1883. Following the completion of his school days here, Fred attended Washington State College, graduating in 1904, having completed a pharmaceutical course and he established himelf in business at Odessa the same year. He remained there for about 17 years, and later operated a drug store at Medical Lake. In recent years, he was employed at Washtucna and at the time he was stricken with the fatal illness, he was with the Emerson Drug Co. in Ritzville. Mr. Thiel was married November 1907 at Web City, Mo., to Miss Maude Johnson. Four children were born to them, one dying in infancy. The others are Maxwell, 21; Ruth 19, and James 11, who with their mother, are left to mourn the loss of the husband and father. Other surviving relatives are five brothers and two sisters. They are J. H. Helmville, Mont.; P. J., Scott's Bluff, Neb.; William, Hooper, Wash.; H. W. and J. C., both of Ritzville; Mrs. Marie Eckhardt, Seattle, and Mrs. Pauline Colwell, Ritzville. The funeral was conducted Sunday afternoon from the Zion Congregational church, Rev. Geo. Zocher officiating. The Masonic lodge of Odessa, of which Mr. Thiel had been a member since his residence there, had charge of the burial service at the Ritzville cemetery. Former Hooper Man Dead M. B. Jacques, who for several years was a resident of Whitman county and at one time had charge of the Daisy school near Hooper, died last week at Portland. He also taught in several other country districts in that county. Mr. Jacques suffered a stroke last year while attending summer school at Oregon State College and was an invalid from that time on. Ernest Welch Passes WASHTUCNA - The funeral of Ernest Welch of Hooper was held on Monday at the Christian church at two o'clock, Rev. Dann of Ritzville officiating. Interment was made in the Washtucna cemetery. Ernest Welch passed away at the Ritzville hospital on Saturday morning from double lobar pneumonia. He was taken to the hospital Thursday in a critical condition. He lacked only a few days of being twenty-three years old. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Alexander and a sister, Mrs. Robert Huffman, of Hooper. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 17, 1930, issue Infant Sons Dies Dean Allen, seventeen-day-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schwisow, passed away Tuesday night and the funeral was held from the home Wednesday, Rev. E. A. Rein conducting the service. Interment was in the Lutheran cemetery. Eliza Blackwood Eliza L. York was born in Rockford, North Carolina, May 18, 1845, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. E. Haight, Ritzville, Thursday, April 17, following an illness of five months from a paralytic stroke. The deceased was married to W. S. Blackwood at Lockwood, North Dakota, March 21, 1870, and seven children were born to them, four of them now living. The family came to Ritzville in 1905, and Mrs. Blackwood had made her home here since that time. Beside the aged husband the four children left to mourn her loss are: Ula Jones of Mohler; W. N. and Wm. Blackwood, and Ethel Haight of this community. There are 23 grandchildren. Mrs. Blackwood was a member of the M. E. church. Funeral services will be conducted from the Haight chapel Saturday morning, Rev. Dann officiating. Interment will be in the Ritzville cemetery. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 24, 1930, issue Marian Stearns LIND - The funeral services of Miss Marian Stearns were held Tuesday from the Lutheran church. The senior class, of which Marian was a member, gave a special number and the boys of the class were the pallbearers. Rev. Meske officiated. Miss Marian Stearns Dies In Spokane Of Pneumonia Miss Marian Stearns, 17, senior in the Lind high school, passed away of pneumonia Sunday night at Spokane, where she was taken last week with the hope that the use of the oxygen tent would save her life. She was the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Stearns of Lind, her father being the lessee of the Lind Leader. The family resided in Ritzville for about a year and Miss Marian attended the high school, while the father was employed on the Journal-Times. The body was brought to Ritzville and taken to the Haight undertaking parlor. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at Lind and was largely attended, Miss Marian being a popular and charming girl, and her untimely death brought sorrow to her scores of friends. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, Thursday, May 1, 1930, issue No obits in this issue Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 8, 1930, issue Paralysis Causes Death Funeral services for Mrs. J. P. Miller, 57, who passed away at her family home 11 miles west of Ritzville at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, were held from the Emanuel Lutheran church Wednesday afternoon, the Rev. E. A. Rein officiating. Burial was made in the Lutheran cemetery. Death was caused by paralysis. Surviving are her husband and three children. Lucy Jane Robinson Lucy Jane Robinson, six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lantz Robinson, now of Spokane, but formerly of the Lantz district, died on Wednesday evening of last week and the funeral was held here Sunday, Rev. Dann officiating. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Tom Hallin Is Dead At Age Of Seventy-nine One of Colorful Early Day Figures of This Community Passes in Spokane Following Long Illness Thomas J. Hallin, 79, former resident of Ritzville, passed away Wednesday at his home in Spokane, following an illness extending over a long period of years. Mr. Hallin was one of the first settlers in Adams county, coming from Wisconsin with his cousin, the late John J. Foley, in the early 80s. In the early years in this vicinity, Mr. Hallin occupied himself at the carpenter trade and general contracting, and was also one of the few professional trappers during the time when fur bearing game was plentiful on Cow and Crab creeks. Up to a little over a year ago the deceased had made his home with his daughter, Kathleen Hallin, on Main avenue. He had been paralyzed since 1921, but in spite of the infirmity held out cheerfully. Although unable to move except in a wheel chair, he was one of the first to go to the polls to cast his ballot at each election. Surviving Mr. Hallin are his daughter, Miss Kathleen Hallin of Spokane, a son, Bernard O. Hallin of Gardiner, Montana, two sisters, Mrs. M. B. McKay and Mrs. J. M. Gunning, Spokane, and two brothers, John, residing in Wisconsin, and Emmet of Wenatchee. Asa McCann, Early Resident, Is Dead At Bremerton Word has been received here of the death of Asa McCann, early resident of Ritzville, at Bremerton on Tuesday. Mr. McCann, who was 78 years of age, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Idell Stoman. The deceased was well known here, having owned and operated a farm in this vicinity for many years. Surviving are two sons, Walter and Fred of Bremerton, and three daughters, Mrs. Stoman of Bremerton, Mrs. Edward Foley of Seattle and Mrs. Maude Brown of Concrete, Wash. No information concerning funeral arrangements has been received. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 15, 1930, issue Judge John Truax Drives Off Richland Ferry And Drowns Local Judge Meets Tragic Death Last Evening While On His Way Home From Prosser-Crashed Through Barrier Into River Ritzville people were stunned today by the tragic death last evening of Judge John Truax, who was drowned when his car plunged off the ferry at Richland, seven miles above Kennewick. The judge was returning to Ritzville from Prosser, where he had held a short term of court and was taking the shortcut instead of going by way of the Pasco-Kennewick bridge. According to the ferryman, the judge drove on the ferry about 7:30, and evidently became confused, as he must have stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake, as the car crashed through the end barrier and plunged into ten feet of water. The car was recovered an hour later a considerable distance downstream. An attempt at resuscitation was made by Dr. L. G. Spaulding, Kennewick physician, without success. Upon notification of the accident, W. O. Miller, Ritzville attorney, and friend of Judge Truax, accompanied by Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Truax went to the scene. M. F. Haight, Ritzville mortician, was called and brought the body to Ritzville. Judge Truax was born in the east, and was graduated from the University of Michigan law school with the class of 1901. Shortly after graduation he came to Adams county, teaching in a school near Hatton for one term. In 1902, he was a candidate for election as county school superintendent on the republican ticket, but was defeated for the office by the late J. H. Perkins. Turning to the practice of law, the deceased rapidly forged to the front as an outstanding attorney. Immediately following, he was named court commissioner for Adams county by Judge Warren. This judicial district then comprised Adams and Lincoln counties, Benton then being a portion of Yakima, and Franklin of Walla Walla county. The present Adams-Franklin-Benton judicial district of which the deceased was the fourth judge, was created by the state legislature in 1906, with W. W. Zent, now an Odessa attorney, as the first judge. Developing a successful practice and rapidly acquiring a place as one of the county's leading attorneys, Judge Truax served as court commissioner until 1909, when he was elected and served two two-year terms as prosecuting attorney, during which time O. R. Holcomb, now member of the state supreme court, was superior court judge. Cooperating with him as prosecutor were Ed Gilson and Geo. McCollom, then serving as sheriffs of Adams county. In 1913 the deceased was elected representative in the state legislature, where he served his district for one term. Following the nomination of Judge O. R. Holcomb to the supreme court of the state, the judgeship in this district was filled for the unexpired term by Judge Bert Linn. In 1916, Judge Truax offered himself as candidate for the superior court and was elected. For fourteen years he held that office with a zeal that earned him a reputation as one of the best loved jurists in the state. The high regard felt for him by his fellow judges throughout the state is shown by the fact that he was often called to sit on cases in other courts. Among the many benches which he was invited to visit were King and Spokane counties. Because of his judicial ability and high personal character, Judge Truax was favorably regarded as a potential candidate for the supreme court. He was president of the state association of superior court judges. Judge Truax was 50 years of age and leaves his widow and adopted son. He was a Mason and received his 32nd degree at Kennewick last week. Up to noon today no arrangements for the funeral had been made. In tribute to the distinguished member of their profession, the Adams county bar association met at the courthouse this afternoon to prepare resolutions upon the death of Judge Truax. Mrs. Peter J. Miller Funeral services for Mrs. J. Peter Miller, who passed away at the family home eleven miles west of Ritzville at 10 a.m. May 6, were held from the Emanuel Lutheran church, Ritzville, on Friday afternoon, the Rev. Henry Brockmann of Odessa and Rev. E. A. Rein officiating Interment was made in the Lutheran cemetery. Surviving the deceased are her husband, J. Peter Miller, seven daughters, Molly, Hanna and Lydia of Ritzville, Mrs. John F. Strohmier, residing in Candada, Mrs. Gotthilf M. Schultz of Paha, Mrs. Fred H. Reiber of Ritzville and Mrs. Lester S. Gunhus of Tacoma. Two sons, Carl and Fred Miller, also survive. Four brothers and two sisters also mourn the passing of Mrs. Miller, one brother living in Tacoma and three in Russia. The sisters include Mrs. Henry Benzel, Ritzville, and a sister residing in Colorado. Mrs. Amelia Nauditt The funeral service for Mrs. Amelia Nauditt, who died at Harrington Tuesday, May 13, will be held from the Turner chapel there at 12:30 Saturday. The body will be brought to Ritzville and another service will take place at the German M. E. church at 2:15. Burial will be in the Ritzville cemetery. Mrs. Lem Jones Mrs. Lem Jones, 64, who has been a resident of Washington for 42 years and of Paha for 32, passed away at the family home Monday morning, May 12. Death came unexpectedly, although the deceased had been in ill health for some time. Eunice Westover Jones was born at Rochester, Minn., in 1866. In addition to her husband she leaves her mother, Mrs. Mary Strause of Paha, two brothers, Lon Westover of Huron, South Dakota, and Phil Westover of White Bird, Idaho, and two sisters, Mrs. John Timm, Paha, and Mrs. Anna Love, Spokane. The children surviving are Mrs. Georgia Leedy, residing in Oregon, and a daughter, Euna, who is a student at W.S.C. Five grandchildren also survive, including Roy, Max and Wanda Skinner of Ritzville. Funeral services were held from the Haight chapel at 10 o'clock this morning. The body will be taken to Spokane for interment. Ralph Richardson LIND - Ralph Richardson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Richardson, died suddenly Friday at his home of a heart attack. Ralph had seemingly been in good health when he retired for the night. He was a Cheney normal graduate and had taught seventeen years, six of which were spent at his home district - the Lone Pine. Funeral services were held from the Methodist church Sunday at 2 o'clock, Rev. Leeth officiating, with special music by the choir. Ralph leaves his parents, brothers and sisters as well as other relatives and a host of friends. He was laid to rest in the Lind cemetery. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 22, 1930, issue Judge John Truax Judges, members of the bar, townspeople and ranchers, taxing the capacity of the M. E. church to the limit, paid homage to Judge John Truax at the last rites held Saturday morning. Following the local services, the body was taken to Spokane, escorted by an honorary guard from the state highway patrol. Members of the family and a delegation of Ritzville Masons also accompanied the body to Greenwood cemetery, where interment was made, by the side of his mother. John Truax was born Feb. 12, 1877, in Calhoun county, Mich., the son of John and Mary Truax. He attended the public schools and graduated from the Union City, Mich., high school in 1897. Following graduation, he taught school, thus working his way through the law school of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. For the first year of his college course, Mr. Truax majored in literary work, turning to the study of law during the final three years of college. In 1908 he was united in marriage with Mary Esther Newland. Surviving are the widow; his father, A. J. Truax of Rockford, and one son, Robert. Mrs. John T. A. Smith Another Ritzville home was touched by the hand of death last week, in the sudden passing of Mrs. J. T. A. Smith, 33, the mother of five small children. Although she had been undergoing medical treatment for a short time, Mrs. Smith's demise on Thursday, due to heart trouble, was sudden and entirely unexpected. Clarie Catherine Nissen was born in Spokane county, Wash., April 19, 1897, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter L. Nissen. She was a baptized and confirmed member of the Lutheran church. On June 19, 1919, she was united in marriage to John T. A. Smith, and the couple resided for three years at Hibbing, Minn. In 1922 they moved to Ritzville, residing here since that time. Five children, George, Randolph, Gordon, Donald and Ellen, were born and survive the passing of their mother. Other relatives are the husband; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter L. Nissen of Ritzville; four sisters, Mrs. Louise Edmonds, Bellingham; Miss Martha Borden, White Bluffs; Mrs. William Schwisow, White Bluffs; and Miss Bertha Nissen, Portland; three brothers, August Nissen, Coeur d'Alene; Ernest Nissen, Zillah; and Harvey Nissen, White Bluffs. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the Emanuel Lutheran church, Rev. E. A. Rein officiating. Burial was in the Lutheran cemetery. Mrs. John Fouser Funeral services for Mrs. John Fouser, 57, a pioneer resident of the Lind vicinity, were held from the Methodist church at Lind at 3 o'clock this afternoon, Rev. John Seithoff officiating. Mrs. Fouser passed away Tuesday as the result of a series of strokes, the last and fatal one occurring on the ninth. The deceased was born in Iowa in 1872, married in that state, and came to Washington 29 years ago. She had lived continuously on the homestead near Lind up to the time of her death. The body was brought to the Haight parlors and prepared for shipment to Chula, Missouri, for burial beside her father and mother. Mrs. Amalia Nauditt Amalia Nauditt was born September 14, 1865, in Ellen-Waldt, Germany, and passed to her reward May 13, 1930, at the age of 64 years, seven months and twenty-nine days. As a small child she became an orphan and was then cared for by her aunt and uncle. At the age of five years she came with her uncle and aunt to America, to the state of Minnesota. In June 1885, she was married to Ludwig Nauditt, who preceded her to his reward in 1924. This union produced 12 children, of which one passed away in early childhood. In 1887 the family came to the state of Washington and settled near Ritzville. In 1920 the family moved to Orchard Prairie near Spokane, where she lived til the death of her husband. Since then she had lived in Spokane with her children Fred, Lilly and Walter til the latter part of April, 1930. Since then she made her home with her daughter Helena, Mrs. William Lehman, near Rocklyn, Wash. Here she passed to her reward having fought the good fight and kept faith. Her last illness was caused by a stroke which she received at Easter time in 1929 after the close of the church services at Rocklyn, where she had gone to have the gratification of her desire to see and hear her grandchildren being confirmed that day. During these thirteen months that intervened she suffered much, but always in patience and contentment. She is survived by eleven children: four daughters, Mrs. Helena Lehman, Rocklyn; Mrs. Martha Glomb, Miss Lillian and Miss Bertha Nauditt, all of Spokane, and seven sons: Henry of Odessa, William and Albert of Ritzville, Louis of Metaline Falls, Washington, Fred, Robert and Walter of Spokane; and seven grandchildren, besides a large circle of friends. J. C. Hadlock BENGE - The death of J. C. Hadlock, an old-time resident of the Benge community, came as a great shock, when he passed away at his home on Sunday, May 18. He is survived by his widow and one son, Clifford. He was laid at rest in the Sand Hill cemetery. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 29, 1930, issue Well-Known Engineer Dead W. T. Fields, 65, veteran Northern Pacific engineer, and a figure well known to Ritzville people through his work with the Gospel Tabernacle mission here during the past few years, passed away at the Sacred Heart hospital, Spokane, Tuesday afternoon. The death of Mr. Fields takes away a man typical in many respects of the railroad pioneers who, with the early ranchers, contributed much to the upbuilding of eastern Washington. Forty-two years ago, when the Northern Pacific was completed, the division point was at Sprague, and the shops located there. It was then that Mr. Fields entered the service of the company as a fireman, and for the past thirty years has been an engineer in the passenger service, serving on the Spokane-Paradise division. His acquaintances in Ritzville came as a result of his devout interest in religious services. Only a week before his death he held services in Ritzville at the Gilson hall, and was the house guest of Dr. and Mrs. L. R. Haight. Surviving the deceased are his son, W. L. Fields, Standard Oil salesman working out of Ritzville, the widow, and a daughter, Mrs. Joe Gilchrist of Spokane. Funeral services were held in Spokane this afternoon, and interment made in the Riverside park cemetery. John Walters Loses Hard Battle With Pneumonia John Walters, 36, assistant city water superintendent, passed away at the E. L. Allen hospital at midnight Wednesday, the result of pneumonia. He was stricken two weeks ago, and remained at his job long after he should have been in bed. With the death of John Walters the city loses one of the most industrious and efficient men that ever served it. He was born in Russia, and had resided in Ritzville for more than ten years. He was a loyal employee and his position will be difficult to fill. Surviving are his widow, Christian Schilling Walters, and four children, Martha, Ruby, Aaron and Eddie. Four brothers and three sisters also survive, one brother and one sister being in America, the rest in Russia. John Walters was born May 3, 1891, in the village of Walter, Russia. Left an orphan at the age of 14, he worked in his native country until 1912, when at the age of 21, he came to America. He had been in Adams county over ten years. Funeral services were held from the Philadelphia Congregational church Sunday afternoon and interment was made in the Ritzville cemetery. Mrs. Ira Brickey HATTON - The community was shocked and saddened when word came that Mrs. Ira Brickey had passed away in Pasco on the 21st. Stella Harmon Brickey grew to womanhood in the Michigan Prairie district, beloved by everyone. She leaves a husband, Ira Brickey, eight children, her mother, Mrs. Nate Woody of California, a brother, Jake Harmon of Michigan Prairie, a sister, Mrs. Lizzie Winnie of Prosser and a half brother and sister, Harry and Mae Woody of California. Mrs. Martha Robbins Word has been received here of the death of Mrs. Martha Robbins, mother of F. E. Robbins, former Ritzville resident. She passed away at the family home in August, Maine, Friday, at the age of 83. She is an aunt of F. V. Pierce of Ritzville. Said He Wished To Die Suddenly and Gets Wish Within two hours after expressing a desire to his employer that he might die suddenly and painlessly, Robert T. Rickard, 45, farmhand on the Paul Burns ranch seven miles northwest of Washtucna dropped dead from the seat of a gang plow, the result of heart failure. Death came to Rickard between the hours of 8 and 9 o'clock Saturday morning. Rickard complained to Mr. Burns of feeling ill Friday evening, and on Saturday morning spoke of a pain in the left side. When questioned concerning the condition of his heart, he stated that he suspected that if he were to die that it might be heart trouble and expressed a wish to die suddenly. He also stated that other members of his family had passed on from heart attacks. Of three men plowing with eight horse teams in the field, Rickard was the last to get out from the barn and had not yet completed a round when the other two, making their second round, discovered his team running off with his plow. The team from which the dead man had fallen, discovering themselves free, broke and ran nearly half a mile, piling up and injuring one horse. The dead man was found lying face down in a furrow. Investigation by the sheriff showed that Rickard had not moved after falling. Little is known of the deceased except that he orginally came from Allentown, Penn., and had a divorced wife in Billings, Mont. Papers on his person indicated that he had at one time held membership in the Loyal Order of Moose. He had worked at various Adams county ranches for a number of years. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 5, 1930, issue Mrs. Joe Gray's Father Killed WASHTUCNA-Mrs. Joe Gray received a message late Saturday night that her father, Luther Jackson of Burlington, had been critically injured in an auto accident near Mount Vernon. He passed away at 10 o'clock Sunday morning as she was hurrying to his bedside. The funeral will be held next Sunday awaiting the arrival of a son from Alaska. The accident occurred as Mr. Jackson, who owns an ambulance, was rushing to the scene of a wreck. The ambulance collided on a small bridge with another car. Mr. Jackson is survived by three daughters and two sons and his wife to whom he was married about three weeks ago. Loses Infant Son Ernest Linwood, the six-weeks-old son of Supt. and Mrs. E. L. Muzzall, passed away Tuesday evening, June 3, of congenital heart trouble. The infant had been in ill health for several weeks, and was brought back from Spokane, where medical treatment was given a few minutes before death occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Muzzall left with the body for Oak Harbor, Wash., the family home, last evening. Funeral services will be held there and interment made in the Oak Harbor cemetery. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 12, 1930, issue W. A. Merrill OTHELLO - Another of our old settlers passed away last week. W. A. Merrill, who had been ill for some time, died at the hospital in Ellensburg and was buried here on Saturday in the Adams cemetery, where his parents were laid to rest. Will or "Bill" as he was known to everyone, was born in Iowa in 1872. He first came to Adams county in 1903, then left for a while, returning in 1911. He had the position of janitor at the school here for 11 years and was a friend of all the children. Bill never married. He left one sister in California and a brother in Illinois. He was a member of I. O. O. F. and they took part in the funeral services. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 19, 1930, issue No obits Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 26, 1930, issue Henry Cordes Sr. Dies At Home In Odessa Henry Cordes, Sr., 75, pioneer, died Tuesday at his home in Odessa. He is survived by his wife, Metta; five sons, Herman and John, Odessa; William, Thornton; Rudolph, California, and Henry Jr., Marcellus, and six daughters, Mrs. John Cooper, Mrs. Peter Luiten, Mrs. L. L. Zisha, Mrs. J. G. Luiten, and Martha, all of Odessa, and Mrs. George Zisha of Kennewick. Pioneer Doctor Dies Suddenly Dr. George T. Penn, 66, Ritzville physician, died suddenly of a heart attack at 5 p.m. Saturday at his residence on Main avenue. The doctor was doing some light work in the yard when he was stricken and the body was discovered by Mrs. Penn. Dr. Penn was born in Marion county, Missouri, April 6, 1864, and received his early education in the public schools of Kansas. In 1890 he was graduated from the medical college of Northwestern University, Illinois, and came west to Spokane, where he carried on a successful practice for 35 years. While in Spokane Dr. Penn was active in civic affairs, having served as a member of the school board from 1897 to 1904. In 1926 the deceased came to Ritzville, where he conducted a general practice up to the time of his death, also serving as official Northern Pacific railway physician during the last two years. Funeral services were held from the Trumbull chapel in Spokane Tuesday, the Rev. Joel Harper of Westminster Congregational church officiating. The body was laid to rest in Riverside Park cemetery. Surviving the deceased are his widow, Marie M. Rohl Penn, to whom he was married at Colorado Springs, Col., on July 17, 1926. A brother, the Rev. C. V. Penn of El Monte, Calif., also survives. Dr. Penn was a member of Eastgate lodge A. F. & A. M., Spokane, and a member of the Ritzville Methodist church. Washtucna Teacher Passes This community was saddened by the news of the death of Miss Wave Angell, age 33, who passed away Saturday night at her home at University Place, Spokane, of heart trouble. Miss Angell was primary teacher here last year. She had been a resident of Spokane for 20 years. She was a North Central high school graduate and also a Cheney Normal graduate. She taught in Lind several years before coming to Washtucna. She is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Angell, three sisters, Miss Mabel Angell and Mrs. Pearl Armcost, Spokane, Mrs. Fern Neil, Elk River; three brothers Vern of Walla Walla, Earl of Troy, Mont., and Nihl of Spokane. The services were held on Tuesday and interment was in Riverside park.