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 7, 1932, issue Mrs. Margaret Sandbrink Mrs. Margaret Sandbrink, 79, for more than forty years a resident of this community, died here Sunday and the funeral was held from the Lutheran church Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. Rein having charge of the service. Margaret Bierman was born Nov. 8, 1853, at Hanover, Germany, and was married in May, 1880, to Fred C. Sandbrink. They came to America the same year and settled at Crete, Nebraska. They resided there for some time, arriving in Adams county about the same time that this part of the country was being homesteaded by scores who were immigrating from the old country to cast their lot in America. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sandbrink, all deceased. Mr. Sandbrink passed away in May, 1928, and the only surviving relatives are a brother, Wm. Bierman; five grandchildren, Alice, Gladys, Hazel and Violet Sandbrink and Laura Hille and a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Agnes Sandbrink of Ritzville. Interment was in the Lutheran cemetery here by the side of her husband. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, January 14, 1932, issue Katherine Gering LIND - Mrs. Katherine Gering, wife of Peter Gering, died after a prolonged illness January 10th at her home in Monroe, Wash., after reaching the age of 74. The deceased was born in Russia and while a very young girl came to America with the rest of her family. They settled in South Dakota and here she was married and then came with her family to the Willamette valley, where they stayed for a few years. In 1900 they arrived in Lind to settle on sagebrush covered land about 18 miles northwest of here and it was here she made her home. She became the mother of five children and 14 stepchildren, who survive her. She also leaves her husband, Peter Gering, one sister in Kansas, 62 grandchildren and a large number of friends in Menno, Monroe and South Dakota. Interment was made Jan. 13th in the Menno cemetery after a service at the Menno Mennonite church, at which Rev. Galle officiated. Geo. C. Coss Dead Funeral services for George C. Coss who passed away near Talent, Sunday, Jan. 3, at the age of 67 years, were held from the Conger funeral parlors yesterday at 2:30 p.m. Rev. T. H. Thuemler had charge of services and interment was made in the Medford cemetery. Mr. Coss is survived by a sister, Mrs. W. H. Clark of Prospect, one brother, A. J. Coss of McDermit, Nevada, two nephews and one niece, Mrs. Clark, and one nephew being in Medford for the funeral. - Medford, (Ore.) Daily News, January 5th. Mr. Coss was an early settler of Adams county, having homesteaded twelve miles west of Ritzville in 1887. Mrs. Iva Dinsmore Arness BENGE - Bill Dinsmore was called to Spokane Monday evening by the sudden illness of his mother, Mrs. Iva Dinsmore, Arness. A message was received Tuesday that she had passed away. It was a shock to this community, as she was well known here. She leaves a daughter, Bernice, mother and father, three brothers, two sisters and a host of other relatives. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, January 21, 1932, issue C. G. Schiffner Mr. and Mrs. Adam Heimbigner left today for Walla Walla following a message that Mrs. Heimbigner's father, C. G. Schiffner, had passed away Wednesday evening at his home. Mr. Schiffner, who was 69 years of age, underwent an operation about a month ago but was able to return to his home when other complications set in, causing his death. He was well known here having visited his daughter frequently. Mr. Schiffner leaves, besides his wife, three sons and four daughters. Alfred Eccles Funeral Held WASHTUCNA - The funeral of Alfred Eccles, 68, who passed away January 10 at his farm home near Hooper, where he had resided 44 years, was held from the Washtucna U.P. church, Rev. Gordon, officiating. Mr. Eccles came west from Indiana at an early age residing first in the Dayton country. He is survived by his widow, one daughter, Mrs. Edith Driscoll; two sons, Clanton and Ivan, two grandchildren, Mary Jean Eccles and Ray Driscoll; two brothers, L. J. Eccles, Buckley, and J. H. Eccles, Lodi, Cal., and a sister, Mrs. J. J. Gross, Oakland. Burial was in the Washtucna cemetery. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, January 28, 1932, issue Mrs. J. R. Harris Mrs. J. R. Harris, 65, died at her home in this city on Friday, January 22, following a long illness. The funeral, which was largely attended by scores of friends of many years, was held Sunday afternoon from the M. E. church, the Rev. Henry Attenborough conducting the service. Interment, under the direction of M. F. Haight, was in the Ritzville cemetery. Alice E. Bailey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Bailey, was born June 28, 1866, at Soldiers Grove, Wis. She came west to Yakima in 1890 and moved to Wilson Creek in 1894. The deceased was united in marriage to Jesse R. Harris in Ritzville on Feb. 5, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Harris continued to live at Wilson Creek until 1898, when they came here and have made their home continuously in Ritzville since that time. Mrs. Harris was a member of the Christian church and enjoyed the friendship of a large circle of friends who admired her for her many splendid qualities, both as a mother and a neighbor. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Harris is survived by two sons, V. D. of Pasco and J. H. of Ritzville, and one brother, J. W. Bailey of Yakima. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, February 4, 1932, issue Schellengers Lose Child Jaunita Schellene, the 10-month-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Schellenger of Vay, Idaho, former Ralston residents, passed away at the family home Sunday. Funeral services were held in Spokane Monday, the Rev. J. L. Carpenter officiating. Interment was in Greenwood cemetery. James F. Collier Dies The passing of a former Ritzville resident and Adams county landholder of more than 30 years ago was recorded in the Spokesman-Review of Friday, January 29: James Franklin Collier, a resident of Spokane valley for 19 years and of the state since 1884, died yesterday at his home on Orchard Avenue. He was a retired farmer. Mr. Collier was born at Sheboygan, Wis., Sept. 21, 1852. In February, 1875, he was married to Mary E. Hunter. Nine children were born to the couple, all of whom survive. They are: Two daughters, Mrs. Lillie Linton of Everett and Mrs. Bertha Frantz of Spokane; seven sons, Berton T. of Libby, Mont., James Vergil of California, T. H. of Rockford, J. J. of Mica, Levi of Walla Walla, B F. of Colfax and W. R. of Orchard Avenue. Following the death of his first wife some years ago Mr. Collier married Lillie K. Maddox, who survives him. He also leaves 45 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Lizzie Zink of Pueblo, Col. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Millwood church. Burial will be in the Pines cemetery, Opportunity. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, February 11, 1932, issue Mrs. Frederick Wahl Mrs. Frederick Wahl, 66, died as the result of a stroke, at her home here Wednesday afternoon, and the funeral will be held from the Philadelphia church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. Neutzmann officiating. The obituary will appear in the next issue. William Bierman Passes Of Stroke William Bierman, 70, one of Adams county's earliest and best known pioneers, was stricken with paralysis at his farm home near town about 1 o'clock Sunday morning and passed away five hours later. Although advanced in years, Mr. Bierman was in good health and his sudden death, being wholly unexpected, was a great shock to the family and friends. The funeral was postponed until this afternoon, Thursday, awaiting the arrival of a son, Carl, from Oakland, and was held from the Lutheran church, Rev. Rein officiating. Interment was in the local cemetery. Mr. Bierman was born Dec. 8, 1861, at Hanover, Germany, and his mother having died there, the son accompanied a party of immigrants to America while still a young boy. They settled at Crete, Neb., and in 1885 Mr. Bierman came west to Ritzville in company with Charles Wellsandt, another of the first pioneers, and uncle of John Wellsandt, himself an early day resident of Crete upon landing in America. Mr. Bierman took up a homestead southwest of town, some of his early day neighbors being Fred Sandbrink and Karl Koeplin. The country was only sparsely settled, and the pioneer cabins out in the sagebrush were occupied by some of those first pioneers, with such familiar names as Farrier, Rosenoff, McCollom and Koeplin, the latter being a brother of Mrs. Bierman. In speaking of his long acquaintance with the deceased, J. I. Farrier said that he and Mr. Bierman, while their homesteads were six miles apart, were neighbors, but at that time those men were used to the distance. "And Bill was a good neighbor, too," said Farrier, in reminiscing on those days almost a half century ago. Mr. Bierman and Miss Augusta Koeplin were married at Walla Walla Sept. 1, 1886, and they made their home on the homestead for a number of years, later moving to another place about two miles from town, now being farmed by two of the boys, Henry and Wm. Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Bierman moved to their present home at the edge of the city in 1917. In addition to his widow, Mr. Bierman leaves five sons and five daughters. They are Carl, of Oakland, Cal., William Jr., Henry, Richard and Edward, all of Ritzville; Mrs. Minnie Dryden of Colfax, Mrs. Lena Miller of Portland, Ore., Clara, Elsie and Mabel, at home. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, February 18, 1932, issue Daughter Town's Founder Dies At Age of Ninety A news dispatch from Walla Walla Tuesday told of the death of Miss Clara Ritz, 90, who died at a hospital there, after living in the Walla Walla valley for 73 years. For four years she has made her home with a nephew and niece, Mr. and Mrs. William Ritz. Deceased was the daughter of Phillip Ritz, after whom the town of Ritzville was named. Gottfried Gross Gottfried Gross, who arrived in the United States from Russia 32 years ago to settle near Ralston in Adams county, died Monday at a Spokane hospital after a lingering illness. He was 54 years of age. The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 1:30 from the Congregational church, three miles from Ralston and interment will take place in the church cemetery there. Mr. Gross followed farming and lived on the same place continuously after coming to America. The surviving family consists of his wife, Mary; one son, Ruben; two daughters, Mrs. Edna Wahl and Olga Gross; his father, John Gross; three brothers, Gotthilf, John and Ben, all of this county. Mrs. Barbara Wahl Barbara Wahl was born May 25, 1865, in Bilwarofka, Russia. During her youth her parents moved to Berlin, Russia, where she was united in marriage to Fred Wahl. In 1903 they immigrated to America and made their home on a farm nine miles north of Lind, and in 1916 they moved to Ritzville. The deceased had been in good health until two years ago, when she was afflicted with a severe stroke. On Feb. 5th, she had another stroke, and on Wednesday, Feb. 10th, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, she passed away at the age of 67 years, 8 months, and 15 days. She is survived by her husband, three sons, Edward, Gustave and William of Lind, and one daughter, Mrs. Radach of Dryden; two brothers, four sisters, and 16 grandchildren. Three sons and one daughter preceded her in death. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, February 25, 1932, issue Theodore Scholer H. E. Scholer received word today that his father, Theodore Scholer, living at Medical Lake, had passed away early this morning (Thursday). Mr. and Mrs. Scholer left for Medical Lake upon receipt of the sad news. Former Resident Killed Gust Carleen, one of the four victims killed Wednesday when a Northern Pacific passenger train struck an auto at Kennewick, is a former Ritzville resident, being a contractor and builder here about 25 years ago. He was a cousin of Joe Olson, Mrs. J. H. Finck and Mrs. D. A. Harris. Martha Kramer Miss Martha Kramer, 30, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 17, and the funeral services were held from the County Line church Sunday, with interment in the church cemetery. Rev. Morach officiated. Miss Kramer was born and spent most of her life on the home place of her parents north of Ritzville. She attended school at District No. 11 in Lincoln county. Her father, Henry Kramer, died in 1908, and her mother in 1926. They were well known pioneers of this section, coming here from Russia 40 years ago. Deceased is survived by four brothers and two sisters. They are Philip of Peshastin, Ferdinand and Arthur of Seattle, David of Ritzville, Marie of Ritzville and Pauline of Seattle. Thomas N. Moore Thomas N. Moore, 82, for many years a pioneer farmer of Adams county, died the last of the week at Kennewick and the body was brought here Monday and laid to rest beside his wife, who passed away in 1917. Morgan Hill Morgan Hill, 58, residing near Lind, died Sunday at his home of influenza, following an illness of several weeks. The funeral was conducted Wednesday by Rev. Seethoff from the Lind M. E. church and the body was brought to Ritzville for interment. Deceased was for many years a member of the Masonic lodge, that order having charge of the burial service. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, March 3, 1932, issue Mrs. Mary Strouse Mrs. Mary Strouse was born Sept. 4, 1845, in Groten, Tomkins Co., New York, and passed away Feb. 28, 1932, at her home in Paha, Wash., at the age of 86 years, 5 months and 24 days. The deceased came to Washington Jan. 23, 1903, where she has since made her home. She leaves two daughters, Mrs. Anna Love of Spokane, and Mrs. Clara Timm of Paha, and two sons, Lon of Milledgeville, Ill., and Philo of White Bird, Idaho, and one sister, Mrs. D. E. Richardson of Peers, Alberta. She was a member of the Methodist church, joining at Rochester, Minnesota. Funeral services were held Wednesday at the Haight chapel and were conducted by Rev. H. Attenborough. Interment was made in the Paha cemetery. Wm. A. Gochnauer Wm. A. Gochnauer was born in Lancaster, Penn., Aug. 15, 1859, and died in Othello, Wash., Feb. 26, being past 72 years of age. He moved to Fanden, Ill., when 19 years of age and was married to Sarah Riden Oct. 30, 1879. To them were born four sons, Walter and Chas., Colorado Springs, Colo., Sterling, Portland, Ore., and Wm. L. and one daughter Mrs. Pauline McManamon reside in Othello. Grandma still survives and resides in Othello. They located near Bruce in 1912 and lived on the farm until three years ago when they moved into town. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, March 10, 1932, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, March 17, 1932, issue Wm. L. Blackwood Wm. L. Blackwood, 78, a resident of Ritzville for 25 years, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ula Jones at Sprague March 16, from infirmities brought on by old age. Mr. Blackwood was born in Salisbury, North Carolina, Nov. 13, 1854, and moved to Ritzville in 1905, where he had since made his home. Deceased is survived by one son, Mark, of Sprague, and two daughters, Mrs. Ula Jones, Sprague, and Mrs. Ethel Haight, Ritzville. Mrs. Blackwood passed away two years ago. Funeral services will be conducted from the Haight chapel Saturday at 1 o'clock with interment in the Ritzville cemetery. George Miller George Miller, 59, father of William Miller of this city, died Sunday morning at the hospital in Yakima, according to word received here by his son, who, with Mrs. Miller, left that day to attend the funeral, which was held Tuesday. Deceased was well known here and at Odessa, where he operated farms for a number of years. He left for the Yakima valley 12 years ago and had been a resident of Wapato since that time. Surviving members of the family are three sons and five daughters, as follows: Dan, Seattle; Ben, Oroville, Cal.; William, Ritzville; Mrs. Lena Glessler, Odessa; Mrs. Hannah Johns, Wapato; Mrs. Minnie Lind, Yakima; Mrs. Emma Reed, Portland; Miss Beverly Miller, Yakima. In addition he leaves two brothers, Adam of Spokane and Conrad of Wapato, and one sister, Mrs. Kate Milam of Hooper. Wilhelmina Wahl Wilhelmina Wahl, 81, died Saturday night at the home of her daughter, Mrs. R. B. Burbank, Spokane. Mrs. Wahl, who formerly lived in Odessa moved to Spokane 11 years ago. She is survived by two other daughters besides Mrs. Burbank. They are Mrs. A. Haase, Odessa, and Mrs. John Hinzman, Wapato; and one son, William, also of Wapato. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, March 24, 1932, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, March 31, 1932, issue August Krause, 76, Dies At Home Here After Long Illness Funeral services for Aguust Krause, 76, pioneer Ritzville farmer, were held Monday afternoon from the Emanuel Lutheran church, the Rev. E. A. Rein officiating. Death came to Mr. Krause after a protracted illness of nearly two years on Thursday evening, March 24, at the family home on Knob Hill. August Ernest Frederick Krause was born Nov. 20, 1855, at Dolgen, province of Pommerania, Germany. At the age of 16, in 1871, he came to America. For a short time he remained in Philadelphia, then moved to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. In the summer of 1890 he came to Sprague, where he took up a homestead two years later. In 1878 he was united in marriage with Louisa Winkelmann, who passed away at Sprague on April 15, 1891. Five children were born to this marriage, including William, now living in Spokane; Arthur, of Auburn, Wash.; Frank of Seattle, Ernest of Ritzville, and Mrs. A. M. Irby of Astoria, Oregon. Mr. Krause was married again on Feb. 15, 1893, to Marie Moede. The children born to this union include Mrs. Alvina Betts of Walla Walla; Mrs. D. Nuzman of Tacoma, and Mrs. N. H. Anderson, Spokane, Two twins of this marriage preceded the father in death, passing in infancy. The second wife died Jan. 31, 1907. On Sept. 22, 1909, the deceased married Augusta Ulrich. In addition to his widow, Mr. Krause leaves a sister in the native town in Germany, as well as 14 grandchildren and one great- grandchild. Mr. Krause's death takes another of the rapidly decreasing number of early pioneers who have built up this community. Although for many years he had been retired, living in Ritzville, Mr. Krause was a well known figure among the farm owners of the county. John Steinbach Funeral services for John Steinbach, 28, were held from the Community Methodist church Monday morning, the Rev. H. Attenborough officiating. The young man passed away at the home of his father, Chris Steinbach, on Rattlesnake Flat last Friday of pneumonia. The deceased was born Jan. 2, 1904, at Town Mountain, South Dakota. He came to Adams county with his parents nearly 20 years ago, and has resided here since. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Steinbach, four sisters and three brothers. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Eleanor Giese Mrs. Eleanor Giese was born May 17, 1842, in Liepsig, Russia, and grew up in the territory. At an early age she was married to Goffried Giese, being blessed with 12 children, three dying in infancy and three in middle age. In 1899 the family came to America, settling in North Dakota. Three years later they moved to a farm near Odessa. Their next destination was Portland, Ore. In 1908, one year later, Mr. Giese passed away and since then the widow lived with her children. The last seven years of her life were spent with Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Stelzer and family. Her death occurred March 26, age 89 years, 10 months and 9 days, after an 18 day illness. Funeral services were conducted at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon from the Congregational church in Lind, the Rev. Morach of Ritzville officiating. Interment was made in the Lind cemetery. She leaves four daughters, Mrs. Jacob Stelzer of Lind; Mrs. Jake Newtz of Elgin, N. Dakota; Mrs. Julia Newtz of Ritzville; and Mrs. Dan Miller of Medicine Hat, Alberta, and two sons, Dan Sr. and Mike Giese of North Dakota, besides a host of relatives and acquaintances.