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, October 6, 1932, issue Mrs. Flora Beckman Joe and A. J. Finck received word last week that their sister, Mrs. Flora Beckman of Delphos, Ohio, had passed away Friday morning following an illness of over a year from cancer. Mrs. Beckman was known by a number of Ritzville people, she having visited her brothers here several times. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, October 13, 1932, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, October 20, 1932, issue Louise Gilman Owen Funeral services for Mrs. Louise Gilman Owen, 86, were held Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. from the Emanuel Lutheran church, the Rev. E. A. Rein, officiating. Mrs. Owen passed away at 7:30 Thursday evening at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. L. Wiffin, with hemorrhage of the brain as the direct cause of death. The deceased was born at Germantown, Ohio, Aug. 27, 1846. She was married in Ohio to Benjamin F. Owen. After a period of residence in Chicago, she came to Ritzville with her daughter in April 1907, and has resided here continuously since. Surviving are her daughter, Mrs. Wiffin; two grandchildren, Mrs. H. E. Peckenpaugh of Seattle, and Miss Margaret Wiffin of Spokane, and two great-grandchildren. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, October 27, 1932, issue Walter Dammel LIND - Word has been received in Lind of the death of Walter Dammel, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Dammel, former residents of the Lind country. His death which resulted from pneumonia and other complications following typhoid fever, came on Oct. 13. Funeral services were held in Leavenworth and interment was made at the Leavenworth cemetery. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, November 3, 1932, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, November 10, 1932, issue Sprague Pioneer Passes Jim Smalley, Sprague pioneer, well known here in Masonic circles, passed away at his home in Sprague Saturday. Burial was held in Spokane Monday. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, November 17, 1932, issue Death of W. H. Oyler WASHTUCNA - The whole community was sadded by the death of W. H. Oyler, the husband of Mrs. Mary Oyler. Mrs. Oyler owns the Washtucna telephone exchange and is one of he community's best loved citizens. Mr. Oyler died suddenly of heart failure on Monday in his rooms at the Northern Pacific depot at Davenport. He had just returned the evening before from a visit with his family here. Mr. Oyler was born in Trenton, Missouri, 62 years ago. He had his first railroad experience on the Rock Island and had been with the Northern Pacific since 1902. The Oylers had been married nearly forty years. Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Verne of Walla Walla, and Maurice of California, three grandsons, and two sisters and two brothers in this state. Mr. Oyler's funeral was held Wednesday afternoon at Davenport with the Masonic lodge ritual and interment was at the Riverside Park cemetery in Spokane where the Shrine services took place. Travis Cope LIND - Travis Cope, a Lind farmer, was killed in an automobile accident when his car went over an embankment 35 miles east of Pasco on the Connell-Hatton road. Mr. Travis, 45 years of age, and a former Othello farmer, came to the Lind country over a year ago, together with his brother, Sam, taking over a place owned by the Hypotheek Land Co. Mr. Travis leaves no dependents. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at Pasco, the American Legion taking charge of the service. Burial also was in Pasco. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, November 24, 1932, issue H. F. Beckley loses sister Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Beckley, of Benge, were called to Ellensburg the last of the week by the death of his sister, Mrs. Ralph Shelton, 32, who passed away Friday after a long illness. The funeral was held Sunday. Mrs. Shelton was well known in the Benge district, where she was raised. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, December 1, 1932, issue Mrs. M. F. Haight Dies Suddenly Nellie Katherine Haight, 45, wife of Miles F. Haight, Ritzville mortician, died at her home in this city Saturday eveing of hemorrhage of the brain. Mrs. Haight was stricken about five o'clock and passed away three hours later. Her death was wholly unexpected, and a shock to the many friends of the family. The body was taken to Spokane and the funeral was held Tuesday afternoon from the Hazen & Jaeger chapel, Canon Charles C. Morfit Jr. of the St. John's Catherdal officiating. The services were largely attended and the floral attributes profuse. Interment was at Kent, Wash., a former home of Mr. and Mrs. Haight during their early married life and where an infant son is buried. Mrs. Haight had been in good health up to three weeks ago, when she developed an excessive nosebleed that required the attention of a doctor. However, her condition was not considered serious and she had been attending her usual household duties that day. She was sitting conversing with members of the family when stricken. Mrs. Haight was born in New York City and when a young woman came to Ritzville, making her home with relatives, the Chittenden family, and for a time was employed in the local telephone office. She was married to M. F. Haight 23 years ago and for a few years they made their home in Kent, returning to Ritzville about 20 years ago. Deceased is survived by her husband and two sons, Forrest and Omer; one brother, Jimmy McCoy, of Tacoma, and a sister, Mrs. Chas. Hough of California. She was also the niece of the late Patrick Clark of Spokane. Died at Wenatchee Wes. Martin, well known resident of the Wheeler country, died at Wenatchee and the funeral and interment were held Sunday in Ritzville. Deceased was a brother of the newly elected state land commissioner, and he was in Ritzville this week seeking information as to his brother's affairs. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, December 8, 1932, issue Death calls Simon Gust Simon Gust, 51, well known Ralston farmer, died at his home Saturday morning, the cause of his demise being pronounced pulmonary embolism. Mr. Gust had not been feeling well for several days, but his condition was not considered serious. He became critically ill about 5 o'clock and died about three hours later. The funeral was held Monday from the Philadelphia Congregational church, the Rev. Nuetzmann conducting the service. Interment was in the Ritzville cemetery. Mr. Gust was born Jan. 24, 1881, at Mansburg, South Russia, and in 1899 he came to America with his parents, and took up a homestead near Warden in 1902. Mr. Gust was married in 1905 to Bertha Widner and they lived on his homestead for 17 years, moving to their present home near Ralston in 1919. Surviving members of the family include the widow and four children, Alexander, Alfred, Emma and Ruth, all at the home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Gust, and four brothers. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, December 15, 1932, issue Dies in Alaska of Influenza Miss Esther McCollom, 29, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I. N. McCollom, of Medford, Ore., and a graduate of Ritzville high school, class of 1922, died of influenza last Saturday at Cordova, Alaska, according to word received here Monday by her uncle, Geo. McCollom. The body is being taken to Medford, Ore., for burial. Miss McCollom was born and raised in Ritzville. After completing her high school career, she attended the Cheney Normal, receiving a permit to teach and had charge of a rural school near here, later graduating from the Normal school. Upon leaving Ritzville, Miss McCollom taught at Medford and received her degree at Oregon State college. This was her second term of teaching at Cordova. A copy of the Medford Tribune, received here this week by Clarence Olson, brother-in-law Miss McCollom, carries the story of her passing. The story says in part: "The first telegram telling of her illness was received by the McColloms Thursday and stated that she was critically ill and in the Cordova hospital, where she was receiving excellent care. On Friday a second wire was received announcing that she had passed the crisis, and was out of danger and improving. Yesterday afternoon the third wire came, announcing her death. "In the fist telegram, it was stated that a letter in explanation had been mailed. The letter has not been received here and the McColloms stated today that they are afraid it was on the boat which was recently wrecked on the northern coast. "Earlier in the fall Miss McCollom had written her parents that she was ill with influenza. She had returned to teaching in Cordova, where she has had a position in the schools for the past year and a half, and was thought to be in good health, when the telegram was received telling of her recent illness. "It is thought that she suffered a relapse from influenza or other complications resulting from the attack. Her cousin, Lola McCollom of Fairbanks, Alaska, was on her way to Cordova, when news of Miss McCollom's sudden passing was received. "Miss McCollom, a graduate of Cheney Normal school in Washington, was an instructor in the Jackson school here for several years and was prominent in school and social activities of the city, where she has a large circle of friends. "She left Medford just a year and a half ago to accept a position in the Alaska schools and did not return for the summer vacation this year. "She is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. I. N. McCollom, and by one brother and one sister, Ivan McCollom of Iowa City, Iowa, and Mrs. Ruth Olson of Ritzville, Wash., also by several cousins, Arthur Hess of this city, Mrs. Mary Griffiths of Eugene, and Walter Hess of Grants Pass. Florence Elizabeth Reiber Florence Elizabeth, 11 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Reiber, passed away Dec. 6 of pneumonia. The funeral was held Saturday from the Lutheran church, Rev. Broeckmann, conducting the service. Interment was in the local Lutheran cemetery. Surviving members of the family consist of the parents and one small sister. Chris Musselman Chris Musselman, 68, of Warden, died at the Ritzville General Hospital Wednesday night. He had been sick for two weeks of pneumonia, and entered last week. Mr. Musselman was a native of Germany and had been a farm hand for the Webers at Weber for 30 years. A brother, Ernest, of Deer Park, arrived yesterday and is attending to the funeral arrangements. The body is at the Haight mortuary. The funeral will be held Friday morning at 10 o'clock with a brief service at the cemetery by Rev. Attenborough. Mary Curry Mrs. Mary Curry, 73, a pioneer of the Delight district for many years, died at her home Dec. 11 of cerebral hemorrhage. The funeral, under the direction of M. F. Haight of Ritzville, was held from the home on Tuesday, Rev. Gordon conducting the service. Interment was in the Delight cemetery nearby. Mrs. Curry is survived by the husband, R. A. Curry, one son and two daughters. (A second notice in the Lind news section read:) Following a two weeks' illness concluded by a hemorrhage of the brain, Mrs. R. A. Curry, well known matron and pioneer resident of the Sandhill country passed away quietly on Sunday evening at 11 o'clock at her home in the country. Mrs. Curry lived to be 74 years old, coming here with her husband and family of three children from the east about 30 years ago. They settled down on their farm in the Sandhills district having lived there ever since. Mrs. Curry was a member of the Rebekah lodge and was well loved and highly esteemed by all her many friends. She is survived by her husband, R. A. Curry, a married daughter, May, in Kansas, and other daughter, Mrs. Anna Williams of Grandview, and a son William of the Lind country. The funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon at the Curry home, a Kahlotus pastor officiating. A large number of members of the Rebekah and Odd Fellows lodges attended the impressive last rites of Mrs. Curry. Interment was at the Sandhill cemetery. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, December 22, 1932, issue Dies at Ripe Old Age R. B. Ott was in Sprague Saturday attending the funeral services of Jack McElroy, 92, pioneer land owner of Adams County. Mr. McElroy, who came to this county in 1886, taking up extensive land holdings, was a civil war veteran, serving in the Union army and navy, later coming to Washington by way of California. He lacked but two weeks of being 93 at the time of his death. He was the discoverer of McElroy lake, near Paha, and also homesteaded and held land near McCall. Burial was by the Sprague Masonic lodge, the deceased having been a member of the order for more than 50 years. Daniel Mann Daniel Mann, 75, a native of Russia, for 11 years a farmer of Lincoln county, died Dec. 18, and the funeral was held Wednesday afternoon from the Philadelphia Congregational church in Ritzville, Rev. Nuetzmann conducting the srevices. M. F. Haight, mortician, had charge of the burial arrangements. Interment was in the Ritzville cemetery. Deceased leaves his widow, Julia, and the following children: Matilda Fielder, North Dakota; Jacob Mann, Harrington; Michael, Sprague; William, Spokane; Daniel D., Rocklyn; Mrs. Mary Grams, Ralston; Mrs. Emma Kessler, Rocklyn; Emil Mann, Sprague; and a step-daughter, Margaret Worden, Portland. Helen Sieverkropp Helen, wife of John Sieverkropp, died Dec. 19, at the age of 72. The funeral was conducted this afternoon from the Lutheran church by the pastor, Rev. E. A. Rein, with interment in the Ritzville cemetery. Deceased was born in Russia and had resided in Adams county for 25 years. Besides her husband, the surviving members of the family consist of three sons, Jake Quast of Odessa, Martin and Fred Quast of Ritzville. George A. Wolgamot George A. Wolgamot, 62, died at the Ritzville hospital Wednesday of pneumonia, and the body was taken to Spokane that evening for burial, a son, J. E. Wolgamot, coming here to make arrangements for shipping the body, which was at the Haight mortuary. Mr. Wolgamot was section foreman at Wheeler. Sprague Man Found Dead Portland, Ore. - Dec. 21 - On a bed of rocks and sticks the rag-clad emaciated body of an elderly man was found today beside the ashes of his camp fire near Troutdale, 15 miles east of Portland. From the meager contents of a battered handbag, the coroner's office tentatively identified the body as that of Arthur Sims, about 65, Sprague, Wash. He had died from hunger and exposure about 10 days ago. The body was discovered by Tom O'Brien, Troutdale trapper. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, December 29, 1932, issue Passenger Dies on Train Roy D. Merritt, 21, a passenger on Northern Pacific train No. 1, died suddenly near Ritzville Friday, while enroute to his home at Missoula from the coast. Death was attributed to heart failure. Dr. W. H. Sweet of Ritzville was summoned on the case, and accompanied the body on into Spokane.