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, July 2, 1931, issue George Siegel, Never Heard From After Arriving At Training Camp, Is Declared Legally Dead George A. Siegel, 21, Adams county boy who was drafted into the service, left Ritzville for Camp Worden, Oct. 22, 1918, and with the exception of one letter written home the next day, has never been heard from since, was declared legally dead here this week by Judge Matt Driscoll. A brother, Eddie Siegel, was appointed administrator of the estate, which includes war insurance which the estate will now sue for. This action could not be taken until young Siegel was declared legally dead. Heretofore his status with the government has been, first, away without leave, and second, deserter, although it is believed he died during an influenza epidemic at the camp and for some reason no record was made of his case. With the court action, the family becomes the beneficiary of the $10,000 government insurance, and R. B. Ott has been appointed attorney to represent the heirs in any further action that may be necessary to collect the money. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 9, 1931, issue Lose Only Daughter Eva, thirteen-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Knodel of Ralston, passed away here Monday and the funeral was held from the German Congregational church near Ralston Wednesday afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. Franke in German and Rev. Zocher in English. Interment was in the church cemetery there. Surviving are the parents and one brother. Brother of Ritzville Man Killed In Auto Accident Albert X. Ripplinger, 48, Wilbur, was killed Sunday afternoon near Cusick while returning from Nelson, B. C., in company with a friend. Mr. Ripplinger has been a resident of Wilbur for 20 years, 15 of which he was bookkeeper for the Columbia River Milling Co. He was president of the golf club there and was well known to many people of this county, having participated in numerous inter-city matches. Deceased was a brother of F. X. Ripplinger of Ritzville, who left for Wilbur upon being notified of the accident. Death Of War Veteran LIND - John Heffner, a prominent farmer of this vicinity, died Wednesday at the Veterans' hospital in Walla Walla, after an illness of several months. Born at Dansville, Ohio, in 1897, he came to this county with his parents while a young man. In 1917, he was called by his country, serving overseas for 10 months. His marriage to Katherine Kagle occurred in 1920, and to this union were born three children. He is survived by his wife, Katherine, and three daughters and brothers and sisters and a host of friends. Funeral services were held Friday afternoon from the Zion Congregational church in Ritzville with Rev. Seethoff officiating. Burial was made in the Ritzville cemetery, with the American Legion in charge. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 16, 1931, issue Katherine Stoops Mrs. Katherine Cable Stoops died at the home of her son George at Lind Sunday morning following an illness of over a year, as the result of paralysis, Mrs. Stoops suffering the third and fatal stroke last Friday. The funeral was conducted from the Haight chapel here Wednesday afternoon by the Rev. Henry Attenborough, and interment was made in the Ritzville cemetery, by the side of her husband, who passed away here in 1913. Mrs. Stoops was born in Illinois on Feb. 29, 1854, and had resided in Ritzville since 1902. She is survived by one daugther, Mrs. John H. Johnson of Tacoma; and four sons, George of Lind, S. F. of Wichita, Kan., J. C. of Ritzville and E. E. of Los Angeles, as well as one brother, Geo. Cable of Prosser. Physician Known Here Dead Dr. C. N. Suttner, formerly of Spokane, and who left there in 1928, to practice in Alhambra, Cal., died recently of pneumonia. Dr. Suttner was well known to many Ritzville people, as he made numerous trips to this city and had many Adams county people as his patients. Benge Sheepman Cause of Search in Idaho Hills Officers and ranchers are combing the densley forested watershed 15 miles southwest of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, searching for Emmett Mitchell, sheep herder for Dewey Bruihl of Benge, and well known in that part of Adams county. It is feared that Mitchell was killed by a wounded bear, that had been caught getting away with a number of Bruihl sheep, as Mitchell's horse was found tethered to a tree and about dead from lack of water. M. S. Goodwin, Benge, took Mitchell into the Mica watershed Friday morning and Mitchell was last seen at 11 a.m. that day. When Waddell, who was tending 2000 of Bruihl's sheep, noticed that some of Mitchell's sheep were astray, he investigated and found that Mitchell was not at camp. Investigators believe that Mitchell's sheep were disturbed by a bear. The searching party finding seven freshley killed sheep, the result of a bear's depredations. Either Mitchell was attack by a bear or accidentally wounded by his own rifle, Dep. Stowe said he believed. Mitchell has a daughter at Ellensburg, Wash. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 23, 1931, issue Helen Marie Simpson Helen Marie Simpson, 11 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Simpson of Ephrata, was laid to rest in the Lutheran cemetery, Ritzville, Monday afternoon, the Rev. Henry Brockman of Odessa conducting the services. Death came to the girl at Medical Lake at 1 p.m. Monday, July 20, after a brief illness. The deceased was born in Wenatchee, Oct. 17, 1919, and was 11 years, nine months and three days old at the time of death. Surviving are her parents, two brothers, John, 13, and James, 10. A greatgrandmother, Mrs. Wm. Buckman, Spokane, and two grandmothers, Mrs. Jacob Weber, Weber, Wash., and Mrs. Margaret Simpson of Los Angeles also mourn her passing. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 30, 1931, issue Wiiliam Kasper Called Suddenly LIND - News of the sudden death of William Kasper, 56, Lind's most prominent merchant came as a great shock to the residents of this vicinity, many of whom have known him for the past 31 years. His death came very unexpectedly. Feeling ill on Friday evening he was taken to Spokane the next morning for medical attention. Mrs. Kasper and his oldest son Milton accompanied him. It was after leaving the doctor's office that he expired suddenly in a taxi while on his way to the Davenport Hotel. Mr. Kasper was born in Poland and arrived in America when 20 years old. He came to Lind 31 years ago, and with his uncle, Jake Kasper, of San Francisco, entered business under the firm name of J. Kasper & Co. This company was dissolved about three years ago after which the deceased was sole manager. The demise of Mr. Kasper can truely be said to be a hard blow to the community since he, as well as the firm before him, was public spirited, and aided many farmers out of their difficulties. Mr. Kasper was a member of the local school board and has served on the town council. He was a member of W. O. W. of Ritzville, and I. O. B. B. of Spokane. He is survived by his wife, Hazel; two daughters, Phyllis and Betty, and three sons, Milton, Harry and William Jr., and uncle, Jacob Kasper of San francisco and two brothers, Maier of Auburn and Charles of Wapato. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 28, at 2:30 p.m. from the Smith funeral home. Interment was made at Fairmont cemetery. Niece of Mrs. Gray Passes WASHTUCNA - Word was received here of the sudden passing of Miss Edith Yeend of Walla Walla, July 25, after a short illness. She is a niece of Mrs. Walter J. Gray and has often visited at the Gray home here. She was a member of a pioneer Walla Walla family, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Yeend having preceded her in death not long ago. She was making her home with her sister, Miss Flora Yeend, and is survived by two other sisters and three brothers. Mrs. W. J. Gray and Miss Eva left to attend the funeral which was held Monday morning. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 6, 1931, issue Former Ritzville Woman Critically Hurt; Husband Killed In Accident at White Bluffs Loyal Borden, 30, White Bluffs rancher, was instantly killed, and his wife, Martha, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. L. Nissen of Ritzville, was seriously injured Wednesday evening in an automobile accident occurring near White Bluffs, according to word received this morning by relatives from Wm. Schwisow, brother-in-law of the deceased. Details of the accident are lacking, but it is reported that it was caused by the glare of an approaching car's headlights. Mrs. Borden was reported to be still unconscious at the home of a friend, at White Buffs this morning. Mrs. Irvine Loses Mother Mrs. M. E. Davidson, 83, mother of Mrs. Roy C. Irvine, passed away early this morning at Sacred Heart hospital in Spokane, following a paralytic stroke last Saturday. The funeral has tentatively been set for Saturday at 1:30 from the Smith parlors in Spokane. Interment will be made at Reardan, where the deceased made her home for many years. In addition to Mrs. Irvine, the other surviving children are Mrs. Grace Shoemaker, Spokane, and two sons, Frank and William, both of Chelan. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 13, 1931, issue No obits Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 20, 1931, issue Ellen Edna Biggs Funeral services for Ellen Edna Biggs, aged 26 years, 11 months and 22 days, were held from the M. E. church at Lind at 2:30 Sunday afternoon, the Rev. John Seethoff officiating. Mrs. Biggs passed away at the Ritzville General Hospital on Saturday, Aug. 15, as the result of internal injuries received in an automobile accident occurring near Cunningham Tuesday evening of last week. Surviving the deceased are her husband, Robert Biggs, two sisters, Mrs. Ralph of Cunningham, and Mrs. Opal Olson, Lind. Mrs. Biggs was well known in Adams county as the member of a pioneer family, her father being the late Henry A. Phillips of Lind. There are no children. Mr. and Mrs. Biggs had resided for many years on a ranch five miles west of Cunningham, which they were managing for the Hypotheekbank of Spokane. Charles Jeffries Charles Jeffries, 53, veteran Adams county ranch laborer and former employee of the county, passed away at a Spokane hospital at 4 a.m. Saturday after an illness of several months of acute heart trouble which was augmented by an attack of dropsy. Although well known and popular with his many friends about the county, very little is known of the life of Jeffries prior to his coming to Ritzville in 1900. He was born in Canada, but just where is not known. Persons who knew him well were aware that his parents had died when he was quite young, and that he had a brother and sister, but he lost all track of them years ago. The funeral was held in Spokane Monday, from the Smith and Company parlors. Burial was in the Fairmount cemetery. Daniel B. Siemens Daniel B. Siemens, 55, former resident of Lind, passed away at his home at Veradale, Spokane suburb, Sunday. Funeral services were held from the Hazen-Jaeger chapel in Spokane at 4 p.m. Monday by the Spanish American War Veterans, the Rev. J. H. Secor officiating. Surviving the deceased are his wife, Muriel, one son, Alvin, and a daughter, Mildred, of Veradale; a daughter, Mrs. W. H. Pruett, resides at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Other survivors include his mother, Mrs. Anna Siemens, a granddaughter; a sister residing at Herbert, Saskatchewan, and a half-sister, Mrs. Catherine Dandall of Spokane. The deceased was a member of Charles King Camp, Spanish American War veterans, Spokane, and the Lind lodge, Knights of Pythias. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 27, 1931, issue Son of Ed Troyer Drowns While Swimming in Lake A. J. Finck this week received a copy of the Deseret News, published at Salt Lake City, Utah, giving an account of the accidental death by drowning of Norman Troyer, 21, son of Ed Troyer, manager of the Myers-Shepley Co., in Ritzville about 18 or 20 years ago. The second victim of the tragedy was a young lady, the companion of young Troyer on a midnight swimming party at a nearby lake. The two were accompanied by a couple of youths, but the party having but two swimming suits, the other boys went to another part of the lake, while Troyer and the young lady donned the suits. Returning two hours later, the boys found the clothes of the ill-fated couple, but no trace of them. After waiting for some time, the officers were notified and young Troyer's body was recovered from the lake, and at the time this article was written, the other body had not been found. Lose Infant Son The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Laws of Ritzville, passed away at the Sprague hospital Saturday morning. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery Saturday afternoon. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 3, 1931, issue Pioneer Lawyer Dies At Odessa Walter Watson Zent, 54, former Ritzville attorney, prosecuting attorney of Adams county a quarter of a century ago and superior court judge of Adams, Franklin and Benton counties from 1907-1909, passed away Sunday at his home in Odessa. Mr. Zent moved to Odessa two years ago from Spokane, where he had been a resident for nearly 20 years, and shorly after was stricken with sickness which kept him from his practice for many months. He recovered sufficiently to again take up his law work, but suffered another stroke the last of the week and failed to regain consciousness. The body was taken to Spokane and the funeral held from the Elks temple Tuesday afternoon with full Elks' funeral ritual. The eulogy was given by W. J. Hindley, former Spokane mayor, and the Elks' quartet sang. He is survived by his widow, Fannie, at the home; one son, Harold of Spokane; four brothers, George of Hollywood, Frank of Tacoma, Dave of Seattle, and Dan of Pasco; four sisters in Idaho and Washington. Mr. Zent was born June 22, 1876, in a covered wagon at Salt Lake City while his parents were traveling overland from the east. After living on a farm near Pendleton, they moved to Dayton. While a butcher and buyer of cattle, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1897, while living in Ritzville. Judge Zent was elected prosecuting attorney of Adams county in 1898, and was judge of Adams, Franklin and Benton counties, 1907-1909. He was chairman of the Spokane county central committee from 1912-1914 and served in the 1927 session of the legislature. "Newt" Womach Dies In Canada After Brief Illness I. N. "Newt" Womach, 62, for 42 years a resident of Ritzville and Adams county, died at Manitoba, Canada, Aug. 31, after an illness of two weeks. While Mr. Womach had been in poor health, it is thought that his death was hastened by the loss of his racing equipment in a blaze that destroyed the stables and six head of horses a few weeks ago. Mr. Womach was born in St. Joe, Missouri, Jan. 6, 1869, and came to Adams county with his parents while a young man, his father being a prominent land owner of the early days. Deceased is survived by his wife, Emma; two daughters, Irene and Mildred; two brothers, William J. of Cheney, and Luther A. of Walla Walla, and one sister, Mrs. Mary Hansen of Walla Walla, six nephews and three nieces. The funeral services will be held Friday morning at 10 o'clock from the Christian church in Cheney, with the Rev. O. A. Adams in charge of the service. Burial will be at Cheney. Death Claim Mrs. Forte Following Long Illness Mrs. Irene Forte, 24, wife of Joseph Forte of Ralston, died Saturday evening at a Spokane hospital, where she has been under treatment since last March, when she developed pneumonia and blood poisoning following childbirth. She is survived by her husband and three children, the latter being William, 6; Richard, 4, and Christine, 6 months, as well as her father, William Struthers of Ralston, a sister, Mrs. Jack Thompson of Klamath Falls, Ore., and a brother, James Struthers of Yakima. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon from the chapel of Hennessey & Calloway in Spokane, and interment was made in the Fairmount cemetery, Rev. Daughters, former Ritzville pastor, preached the service. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 10, 1931, issue S. L. Knee LIND - S. L. Knee, pioneer storekeeper of Lind, died last Thursday at his home in Veradale, where he has been living for a short time. Mr. Knee is survived by his widow, Idella, three daughters, Mrs. Mamie Dunn of Eugene, Ore., and Misses Gladys and Audrey Knee at the home; four sons, Robert, George and Vadous of Spokane and William of Oregon. Funeral services were held at Hazen and Jaeger chapel with interment at Marshall cemetery. Mrs. J. S. Helme Passes WASHTUCNA - Word was received here Saturday morning of the death of Mrs. J. S. Helme at the home of her sister in Vancouver, Wash., Friday night. Several weeks ago Mrs. Helme suffered a paralytic stroke. Her sister and husband came here from their home in Vancouver to help care for her. On Thursday hoping a change in climate might prove beneficial they took Mrs. Helme to Vancouver, but to no avail, as she was beyond mortal aid. Mr. Helme left Saturday for Vancouver. The obituary will be in a later issue. Mrs. Helme has many friends who mourn her passing. Mrs. Douglas Loses Father WASHTUCNA - Mrs. Tom Douglas, who has been on a month's visit to her old home in Missouri was saddened by the death of her father on the very day she had planned on starting home. While he has been in ill health for some time his death was totally unexpected and a great shock to the family. Mrs. Douglas has delayed her return here some time later. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 17, 1931, issue John Leichner Dead Word was received here the last of the week that John Leichner of Portland passed away the last of August. Mr. Leichner was well known in this vicinity and has been making his home in Portland since leaving Ritzville about eight years ago. Former Potlatch Manager Here Commits Suicide Despondent over failure to obtain work, Herman Dau, well known former resident of Ritzville and for six years manager of the Potlatch Lumber Company yards here, committed suicide by shooting and hanging in a woodshed at the rear of his home in Spokane Monday afternoon. A check by police revealed no note nor any other indication of the man's intentions or reasons for the act, but it is believed that the fact that Dau had been out of work for more than a year brought about the despondency that caused him to commit suicide. After leaving Ritzville, in 1929, he operated a service station on the Northwest boulevard, but the slump in business during the ensuing year forced him out of that venture. Since then he had been unable to secure work. Dau is survived by his wife, and a son, Robert, age 13. James H. Kelley LIND - Mr. Kelley died Friday night after an illness of a week. Suffering a stroke on Sept. 5. Hope for his recovery was held until Wednesday, when he became worse and his children were called. Born in Lee County, Virginia, on April 14, 1862, he lived around Walla Walla and Spokane for about 20 years previous to his coming to Lind 12 years ago. Surviving him are his wife, Mrs. Minerva Kelley; four sons, Roy, George, Hagen and Ralph; two sisters, Mrs. Rose Strickey of Hagen, Va. (other sister not given); two brothers, J. P. Kelley of Atlanta, Ga., and J. B. Kelley of Walla Walla. Funeral services were held from the Methodist church Sunday, Rev. J. Seethoff officiating. Interment was made in the Lind cemetery. Mrs. Mattie Helme WASHTUCNA - The funeral services were held on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at the U. P. church for Mrs. Mattie Helme, wife of J. S. Helme, who had passed away in Vancouver, Wash., on Saturday at the home of her sister, Mrs. Brown. Rev. Attenborough of Ritzville officiated in the absence of Rev. Gordon. Interment was in Washtucna cemetery. Mrs. Helme was born in Iowa and was a graduate of Iowa Seninary and Cornell college in New York. She formerly taught in the Spokane city schools and after coming to Washtucna acted as subsititute teacher for awhile. She was a talented woman, who sudden passing was a shock to many friends and relatives. She is survived by her husband and a sister in Vancouver and one in California. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 24, 1931, issue Jacob Thiel Came To County In 1883 The Ritzville community lost another of its sterling citizens this week in the death of Jacob Thiel, Sr., 79, who passed away at his home in this city Tuesday, following a long illness. Mr. Thiel was intimately connected with the pioneer days of Adams county, having arrived here in 1883, when he took up a homestead four miles west of town and one of the sons, Michael, is still farming the old home place. Mr. Thiel was born in central Russia on June 15, 1852, coming to America in 1878, one of the colony of thrifty, industrious farmers who later settled this county and whose names were prominently identified through the ensuing years with the county's progress and development. Following four years in Nebraska upon his arrival in the country, Mr. Thiel joined a covered wagon train for the long, dangerous trek to Washington, with Walla Walla as their destination. In 1883 the deceased came to Adams county and since then resided here continously. With his sons grown to manhood, Mr. Thiel retired and moved to Ritzville 30 years ago, and he has always been a citizen highly respected and esteemed by his many friends. The funeral services were conducted this afternoon by Rev. Neutzmann from the Philadelphia Congregational church, with interment in the Ritzville cemetery. Mr. Thiel is survived by his widow, Katie; one daughter, Mrs. F. F. Koch of Buhl, Idaho; four sons, Fred and Henry of Astoria, Ore., J. J. of Spokane, and Michael of Ritzville; one brother, Henry, of Ritzville, and eight grandchildren. Former Lind Woman Dies Mrs. C. G. Nicolai, 25, died Monday at the Sprague hospital following a brief illness, and the funeral was held Wednesday from the Lutheran church there, Rev. E. A. Rein of Ritzville conducting the service. Surviving are the husband and two sisters. Mr. Nicolai is a World war veteran and a member of C. J. Newland post of this city, while Mrs. Nicolai was a member of the local auxiliary. The family formerly lived at Lind, moving to Sprague about a year ago, where Mr. Nicolai operates a service station.