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 7, 1932, issue Charles H. Kirchner WASHTUCNA - Charles H. Kirchner, Connell, one of the oldest residents there, owner of the Connell Grange for many years, passed away March 28, at the Ritzville hospital where he had been for about two weeks. He was 55 years of age. The funeral was held in Connell on Thursday at the Nazarene church, with Rev. G. A. Maag of the German Methodist church officiating. The funeral service was in charge of the American Legion and was one of the largest ever held there. While a firing squad was furnished by the Pasco legion post and Connell legionnaires, a Ritzville delegation consisting of Drs. W. H. Sweet and H. F. Adler, John T. A. Smith, C. C. Bailey and Walter Athey assisted in the ceremony. Burial was in the Connell cemetery. Charles Henry Kirchner was born in Gablasburg, Germany, Feb. 9, 1877, coming to the United States with his father in 1881. For a few years he made his home in Wheeling, West Virginia, then moving to Harlan, Illinois, where he attended public schools. He joined Company C of the Second Regiment of the Illinois Volunteers of the Spanish American war, serving in Cuba in 1898. In 1902 he came to Connell and in 1906 married Miss Edna Mittelsteadt of that city. Three children were born to the union, William, manager of the Shell Oil Co., here, and Fern and Gertrude at the family home in Connell. Besides his children, he leaves to mourn his loss, his widow, three brothers, George of St. Charles, Ill., Robert of Dallas, Texas, and Gust of Sunnyside, and three sisters, Mrs. Mary Miller of Manistique, Michigan, Emily Mittelsteadt of Connell, and Clara Mittelsteadt of Tuscon, Arizona. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 14, 1932, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 21, 1932, issue George Kembel Dies In Spokane After Long Illness George Kembel, 68, died at a Spokane hospital Saturday following a long illness and the funeral was held from the Lutheran church in Ritzville Tuesday afternoon, Rev. E. A. Rein conducting the service. Interment was in the Ritzville cemetery. Mr. Kembel was born in Kolb, Russia, Sept. 20, 1863, and was married to Miss Marie Barbara Kembel on Dec. 22, 1883. They came to America in 1900, settling on a ranch six miles west of town. Mr. Kembel retired in 1914 and since then they had made their home in Ritzville. He is survived by the widow, one son, George of Lamont, and two daughters, Rose and Ruth, both of San Francisco. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 28, 1932, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 5, 1932, issue Henry Ocheltree Henry, 15-year-old son of Mrs. Minnie Ocheltree of Hatton, died at the Ritzville hospital Monday of general septicaemia, starting from an infection of the lip and spreading over face and head. The funeral, in charge of Mortician Haight, was held at Hatton Wednesday, the service being in charge of Rev. Geiszler. Interment was in the Riverside park cemetery, Spokane, by the side of his father. Henry was born and raised at Hatton, and was a student of the Lind high school. The family has been among the best known in that part of the county for years, his uncle being H. R. Ocheltree, pioneer merchant of Hatton. In addition to his mother, the surviving members of the family consist of a sister, Miss Ruth, student at Washington State College and a brother Clifford. P. J. Friesinger P. J. Friesinger, 55, a resident of Ritzville twenty years ago, and who enjoyed widespread popularity owing to his good-natured disposition, died suddenly Monday evening at Troy, Mont., of heart failure. He was stricken while on his way home from the drug store which he operated and expired in a few minutes. Mr. Friesinger was born at Little Falls, Minn., and had resided at different places in the Inland Empire during the last 30 years, and had a versatile career, being a pharmacists, veterinarian and salesman. His friends were legion, drawn to him by his ready wit and story telling ability. He was noted for his fishing prowess. All this, combined with his joviality, and his willingness to assist and lead in all civic enterprises, made him hundreds of friends, who will regret to learn of his passing. The funeral was held today at Spokane. Mr. Friesinger was a brother-in-law of Mrs. J. C. Kittel of this city, and she left Tuesday for Troy. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 12, 1932, issue John A. Thiel John A. Thiel, 62, died at the hospital in Missoula May 9, following an illness of two years, and the body was brought to Ritzville Wednesday evening. The funeral was held today from the Zion Congregational church, Rev. Geo. Zocher officiaing. Interment was in the Ritzville cemetery. Mr. Thiel was born in northern Russia June 20, 1870, and came to America with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Thiel, in 1878. The family settled at Culbertson, Neb., and in the spring of 1882, they joined a covered wagon train for the long trek across the plains to Washington, arriving at Walla Walla that fall. The following spring they came to Adams county. Here Mr. Thiel made his home until 1913, following farming and operating a drug store. He was married here in 1899 to Miss Mary Block, also of Ritzville. They left in 1913 to make their home at Helmville, Mont., moving to a small stock farm. In addition to the widow, he leaves four brothers and two sisters. They are: Henry W., Ritzville; Peter T., Lincoln, Neb.; J. C., Ritzville; William, Hooper; Mrs. John Eckhardt, Seattle, and Mrs. E. J. Colwell, Ritzville. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 19, 1932, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 26, 1932, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 2, 1932, issue Mrs. Ada Muelkin Death claimed Mrs. Ada Muelkin, 41, wife of Theodore Muelkin, at a Spokane hospital May 27, following a long illness. The body was brought to Ritzville by Mortician M. F. Haight, and the funeral was held from the Zion Congregational church Tuesday afternoon by Rev. Zocher. Interment was in the local cemetery. Deceased was born in this community, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Henricks, and had been a resident of Spokane for the past five years. In addition to the parents and husband, Mrs. Muelkin is survived by a baby son, Theodore Jr., ten months old; four sisters, Mrs. Carrie Hinrichs and Mrs. G. F. Weber, Ritzville; Mrs. George Headland and Mrs. R. H. Davidson, both of Portland and two brothers, Henry of Calgary and Edward of Ritzville. Mrs. Catherine Huber Mrs. Catherine Margaret Huber, 59, died at her home in Spokane May 26 after a prolonged illness, and the funeral was held Saturday. She had been a resident of Spokane for 37 years, and was the wife of Peter Huber, veteran railroad engineer, who was recently the victim of a hit and run driver and had both legs broken. Mr. Huber is now in the community hospital at Missoula. Mrs. Huber, in addition to the husband, leaves two daghters, Mrs. Mabel Amann of Pasadena and Mrs. Margaret O'Hare of Spokane. She was also the sister of Mrs. John Thiel, Mrs. John Lenhart and Jacob Kiehn, all of Ritzville. Mrs. Jacob Luiten Mrs. Jacob Luiten, 44, former Ritzville matron died at a Spokane hospital Sunday, and the funeral was held at the Lutheran church at Davenport Tuesday. Interment was in the Lutheran cemetery there. Mrs. Luiten was born in Minnelva, Minn., and moved to Ritzville when a small girl. She was married to Mr. Luiten June 4, 1907, and lived on a farm near here until 1919, when the family moved to Rathdrum, Idaho, and then to the Larene region, north of Davenport, in 1928. She is survived by her widower and 10 children. Dora Maybloom E. L. Starring received word the last of the week that a cousin, Mrs. Dora Maybloom, had passed away and the funeral was held Tuesday in Spokane. She leaves seven sons, one of them, Andrew Martin, residing at Washtucna. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 9, 1932, issue Mrs. Ellsworth Weir LIND - Mrs. Ellsworth Weir passed away Sunday evening at her country home south of town. She had been in ill health for some time and died in the car while on her way to receive medical attention. Mrs. Weir was a well known pioneer of this community. She was born Feb. 2, 1857, at Arlington, Illinois. In 1906 she, with her husband, settled on a farm near Lind, which has been their home ever since. She was an active member of the Methodist church, having joined in 1920. Surviving her are the husband, Ellsworth, and two children, Noble Weir and Mrs. Irma Davidson, one sister, Mrs. Siefert and two grandchildren. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the M. E. church, Rev. Seethoff officiating. Interment was made in the Lind cemetery. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 16, 1932, issue Neck is Broken In Auto Smash Elwood Zyph, 18, high school student of Othello, was instantly killed early Sunday morning while returning home from a dance at Neppel. He was riding in the rumble seat of a car driven by Fred Moore of Bruce when Moore drove head on into a pillar of a railroad viaduct north of Warden. Zyph's neck was broken and Moore is said to be in a serious condition from internal injuries. Their companions, Dayton Doyle and Earl Eaton, escaped with bruises. The body of young Zyph was brought to the Haight mortuary in Ritzville and was shipped to Mabton Wednesday morning for burial. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Zyph of Othello. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 23, 1932, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 30, 1932, issue Lad Breaks Neck In 10-Foot Fall Harry Charvat, 13, met a mysterious death Sunday afternoon at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Charvat, near town. The lad was found dead with a rope wound three times around his neck, which had been broken. The facts of the tragedy will never be known, as the boy was in the outbuilding by himself at the time. A rope about 25 feet in length was fastened on one end of a rickety platform 10 feet overhead, while the other end was attached to a timber on the ground. The rope was stretched loosely and it is presumed that the boy, attempting some stunt, had either climbed the rope to the platform or was attempting to do so when he fell, became entangled and was killed. When discovered the body was near the ground, almost in a sitting position, and the earth was disturbed where the hands in their death struggle had scratched the dirt. The body, still warm, was found by the mother, who in her frantic anxiety, released the rope from its death hold and she carried her son into the house. A doctor was summoned, but the boy was already dead. In explaining what she knew of the details, to the officers, Mrs. Charvat stated that the rope had made three turns around the neck and still more was tucked under the loops. The fall had snapped the neck and death was instantaneous. The body was removed to the Haight mortuary, but after the questioning the parents, Coroner Freese decided no inquest was necessary. The funeral was held Tuesday with burial at Deer Park. Death Ends Long Illness Mrs. Minnie Krause, 38, passed away Sunday at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Thom in Ritzville, after an illness extending over many months. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Henry Attenborough and the Rev. L. Gaiser from the Community Methodist church Wednesday afternoon, with burial in the Ritzville cemetery. The large number of floral pieces and well filled church were tributes of the high esteem in which Mrs. Krause was held by the people of this community. Deceased was born in Illinois, Sept. 17, 1893, and came with her parents to Ritzville in 1902. She married Ernest Krause Nov. 14, 1914, six children being born to them, four of whom, with the husband and father, survive. The children are Norman, Robert, Evelyn and Dorothy. She also leaves her parents, three brothers and three sisters. Old Time Doctor Dies Dr. John M. Adams, one of the first physicians in Ritzville, passed away at his home at Niles, California, recently at the age of 76, according to word received this week through Mrs. J. G. Bennett of Tacoma, a former resident. Dr. Adams came to Ritzville in the early 80s and was here for nearly 20 years. He married Myrtle Graham, pioneer teacher in the public school system here, and 25 years ago left for California, being forced to give up his practice here on account of ill health. Since living in California, Dr. Adams continued to practice up the date of his death, being the official Southern Pacific railroad doctor at Niles. Surviving the deceased are his widow and one son. Burial was at Niles.