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 5, 1934, issue Mrs. Harry Lattimer LIND - Mrs. Harry Lattimer, nee Ruby Thomas, died suddenly Thursday morning at the Jean Phillips home where she and her husband were employed. Death was caused by a blood clot on the brain. Mrs. Lattimer is well remembered here having received her public and high school education in the Lind schools. After graduation she took nurses' training at the St. Luke's hospital. This spring she was married to Harry Lattimer. She is survived by her mother, Mrs. Thomas and a brother Russell of Fort George Wright. Funeral services were held Monday from the Methodist church, Rev. Wetherell officiating. Interment was in the Lind cemetery beside her father. Henry Precht, mortician, was in charge. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 12, 1934, issue J. P. Swing Many old residents of this locality will recall a former Ritzville man, J. P. Swing, who came here in 1897 and made this his home for five years. Mr. Swing died last month at Humboldt, South Dakota, at the age of 86. His wife passed away just a month before. Mr. Swing came from South Dakota and after several years here returned to his former home state, where he remained up to the time of his death. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 19, 1934, issue Harvest Hand Drops Dead on Benge Ranch W. H. Richardson, about 45, who came to Adams County for the harvest and had been employed since July 1 on the Butts Bros'. ranch at Benge, dropped dead while driving a header box Wednesday morning. The body was brought to the Haight mortuary here by Coroner Freese and Sheriff Oestreich. A single envelope found on the body giving the man's home address in Seattle enabled the authorities to get in touch with his relatives and they sent an undertaker over that night to take the body to the coast. Death Claims Both Mother and Child Mrs. Alex Rehn, 35, died at the Heun hospital Sunday morning at 1 o'clock of childbirth, the baby, a daughter, surviving only a few days, passing away Wednesday morning. The infant had been christened and named after her mother. The double funeral, with the two bodies occupying the same casket, was held Wednesday afternoon from the Zion church, the pastor, Rev. Morach, officiaing, and was largely attended with a profusion of floral tributes. The husband left the next morning with the bodies for Mrs. Rehn's former home in Elgin, North Dakota, where they will be interred. Mrs. Rehn, whose maiden name was Ida Beatrice Nuss, was married to Rev. Rehn, pastor of the Endicott church, on May 28, 1933. Mrs. Rehn was born in Elgin, N. D., where she followed her profession for three years after graduating from the Bismarck, N.D. hospital. She also was attached to the staff at the Colfax hospital in Whitman County and it was here that she met Rev. Rehn, when she was called to nurse his mother in her last illness. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Rehn is survived by her parents, six sisters and four brothers. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 26, 1934, issue Clarence Stromberger Victim of Paralysis Clarence, 18 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Stromberger, residing near Sprague, died Tuesday night of infantile paralysis, following a short illness. The boy was evidently improving when he suffered a relapse after leaving the house before he should. The funeral will be held here Friday afternoon, Rev. Neutzmann officiating and burial will be in the Ritzville cemetery. The boy was born in this city. He is survived by his parents, eight sisters and four brothers. This and other cases of infantile paralysis has caused a ban to be placed on public gatherings of chlidren and young people both here and at Sprague. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 2, 1934, issue Two More Pioneers Called Peter J. Kalkwarf and Robert McCall Die in Spokane Peter J. Kalkwarf, 85, former well known resident of this city, died this week in Spokane where he has made his home for many years. The funeral was held from the Lutheran church here this morningk, with interment in the Ritzville cemetery. Deceased is survived by six children. Word was received this morning that Robert W. McCall, 67, pioneer stockman of McCall, had died today in a Spokane hospital of cancer. He is survived by his wife Martha, three sons and six daughters, as well as three brothers. Funeral arrangements had not been made today. McIlveen Baby Succumbs Mary M., the 14-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. McIlveen of this city, died at a Spokane hospital Tuesday, following an illness of only a few days of pneumonia. In addition to the parents, the baby is survived by an infant sister. The funeral was conducted Wednesday from the Hazen & Jaeger mortuary in Spokane. Mrs. Fannie Watkins LIND - Mrs. Fannie Watkins passed away Wednesday morning at the Sacred Heart Hospital after an illness of almost a year. Mrs. Watkins, who had resided near Lind for many years was very active in local charitable work. She is survived by five sons, Silas, Gholson, Rex, Ray and Jack, and three daughters, Nina Anderson, Esther Wheeler and Lydia. Funeral arrangements had not been arranged this morning. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 9, 1934, issue James Clark Tate James Clark Tate, son of J. E. and Delmar Tate, was born near Mesa, Wash., August 1, 1907, and died August 5, 1934. He was united in marriage to Zara May, Nov. 28, 1927. To this union were born two children, Roberta Lenore and Eugene Phillip. He leaves to mourn his loss, besides his wife and children, his father and mother, three brothers and two sisters, other relatives and a host of friends. Clark, an employee of the Milwaukee shops at Othello, had worked a number of years without a vacation, was sick and despondent and took his own life. He was a faithful provider for his family, a kind and loving husband and faher, a devoted son and a loyal friend. Mrs. Fannie Watkins Fannie Tatman Watkins died Aug. 1 at the Deaconess hospital in Spokane. Mrs. Watkins was born in Hancock county, Illinois, Aug. 31, 1871, and married H. E. Watkins April 4, 1885, in Kingman county, Kansas, and the family came to Washington February, 1898. They settled 7-1/2 miles southeast of Lind where she and her family have lived ever since. Surviving are her husband and ten children, R. E. of Benge, S. L., Mrs. G. W. Anderson, L. W., E. E., Ray, Rex and Liddia, all of Lind, Mrs. H. W. Wheeler of Cottage Grove, Ore., and G. A. of Seattle. All of her children were here to attend the funeral which was held at Bemis cemetery on Saturday at 2 o'clock. Besides her children, Mrs. Watkins leaves two brothers, Harry and Albert Tatman, and one sister, Mrs. S. F. Watkins, all residing in Lind. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 16, 1934, issue Pneumonia Causes Death of Pioneer Wilbert Stephen Egbers, 70, a prominent farmer of the Ritzville district for many years, succumbed to an attack of pneumonia at the Ritzville hospital Sunday. The funeral services were held from the Methodist church Wednesday afternoon in the presence of a large number of friends. The Rev. Henry Attenborough conducted the service and interment was in the Ritzville cemetery. Mr. Egbers was a member of the Methodist church for many years. Mr. Egbers was born in Illinois on June 21, 1864, and with his bride he came to Ritzville, arriving on March 20, 1886, and had made his home here continuously. He leaves his widow Clara; one son, Guy, of Spokane; two daughters, Mrs. S. Griffith of Farmington and Mrs. Beulah Salonka of Seattle, as well as two brothers, four nephews, three nieces and three grandchildren. Mrs. Lena Freeman WASHTUCNA - This community lost a beloved friend and neighbor with the death last Thursday of Mrs. Lena Freeman, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. F. Burns. Mrs. Freeman had been in ill health for almost a year with a complication of illnesses and a heart weakness. She was 75 years old. The funeral took place Friday afternoon at the United Presbyterian church with the Rev. D. A. Russell of Spokane officiating. A large number of Mrs. Freeman's friends gathered to honor her memory, many coming from distant points. Mrs. Freeman is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Maude Spears of Genessee, Idaho; Mrs. May Thomas of Spokane; and Mrs. Sara Burns, Miss Esther and Miss Jennie Freeman of Washtucna. There are also a sister and brother living in Illinois, two brothers in Idaho and Charles Helm of Washtucna is a half-brother. Four grandchildren survive, Esther, Eleanor, Clarence and Howard Thomas of Spokane. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 23, 1934, issue Lind Farmer Killed When Car Crashes in Concrete Bridge George Roth, 40, prominent Lind farmer was killed and Nick Angelo, Milwaukee section foreman of Lind was badly hurt early Sunday morning when Angelo's car, an almost new Plymouth, crashed into the end of a concrete bridge at York coulee, 22 miles west of Ritzville. With the men were their wives and a little daughter of the Angelos. Mrs. Angelo received a fractured ankle, while her husband, who was driving, received several broken ribs when he was thrown against the steering wheel which was shoved against and broke the windshield. His knee cap was also injured. Mrs. Roth and the little girl escaped with bruises and scratches. The party was enroute to Seattle to spend a few days. The wreck was discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thom, who were preceding several other cars of Ritzville people on their way to the Snoqualmie pass paving dedication. The Thom car arrived a few minutes after the accident, and soon another car containing Fred Benzel and several young men companions came by. Mr. Thom took Mrs. Roth to the Nightengale farm home about a quarter of a mile off the road while the boys located a telephone at another ranch a few miles away and summoned help. George H. Freese, county coroner, with a load of Commercial club members arrived a short time later. Mr. Angelo was taken from the running board where he was sitting and placed on blankets on the ground but Mr. Roth, still alive but unconscious, was lying back in the front seat where he was thrown by the recoil. He lived but a half hour after the accident, as his head was crushed from the impact with the front of the car just above the windshield. The strip of cloth-covered metal caught him across the bridge of the nose, smashing in his face. Mr. Angelo, although suffering greatly from his injuries, was able to talk and volunteered the information to the Journal-Times reporter who was with the Freese car that he was traveling not more than 40 miles an hour. The bridge spans a dry ditch about ten feet deep in the coulee and a winding grade leads onto the bridge from both ends. Tire marks in the road showed that after reaching the bottom of the grade the car started weaving, cut an "s" and headed straight for the end of the bridge. It is said that the women had told Mr. Angelo that he was driving too fast and he turned to reply good-naturedly when he lost control of the car. After slamming on the brakes he was unable to right it in time to miss the end of the solid concrete guard rail. The car could not have hit it squarer and the force of the collision was so great that glass from the lights was thrown for 15 feet. The car, driven only 2800 miles, was completely wrecked, and was brought in later in the morning by the Ott Motor Co. wrecker. With the arrrival from Ritzville of Sheriff Oestreich and Mortician Haight, the body of Mr. Roth was placed in the ambulance. Mr. Angelo also was brought to town in the same conveyance and was taken to a hospital in Spokane the following day by Dr. W. H. Sweet, who was called on the case. The body of Mr. Roth was taken to the Haight mortuary, later being removed to Lind. The women were taken to the hospital here by Mr. Freese in his car. The trip to the summit was abandoned by the other members of the Freese party. Mr. Roth was well and favorably known, not only in his own community, but throughout the county. He was the father of several children. The funeral is being conducted from the Congregational church in Lind this afternoon. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 30, 1934, issue Daniel Kleinknecht Dies Daniel Kleinknecht, 66, died the last of the week in Spokane and the funeral was held there Monday, with interment in Riverside park. Mr. Kleinknecht was a prominent Ritzville citizen during his long residence here. He built the brick building on Adams now occupied by the Kalkwarf and Rehn garages and was otherwise prominently identified with the business life of the community. He leaves his wife, Wilhelmina, four daughters and three sons. Among the children are Mrs. Christina Schall of Ritzville. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 6, 1934, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 13, 1934, issue Pioneer Matron Dies Mary Kosanke, 71, wife of Fredinand Kosanke, pioneer Adams county farmer, died at her home in this city about midnight Wednesday. Mrs. Kosanke was born in Russia and had been in the United States for 41 years. She leaves three sons, John David, Samuel Simon and Reinhold, and one daughter, Mrs. Katie Stehr. The funeral arrangements had not been completed this morning. The body is at the Haight mortuary. Death Strikes Quickly Geo. Schoessler Dies Suddenly at Home Friday Afternoon. George H. Schoessler, 59, a retired farmer, died suddenly at his home in this city Friday afternoon about 3:30. Mrs. Schoessler had come up town to do some shopping for the evening meal and upon returning home found her husband dead on the bed. The body was removed to the Haight mortuary and the funeral held from the Philadelphia Congregational church Monday afternoon, with interment in the local cemetery. The Rev. H. Nuetzmann had charge of the service. Mr. Schoessler was a native of Russia, and before retiring nine years ago and moving to Ritzville, operated a farm near Odessa. He is survived by his wife, Anna Katherine, three daughters and one son. Drowned In Sprague Lake J. W. Wallace, whose address we have been unable to learn, was drowned Monday afternoon in Sprague lake, and the body was not recoverd until that night, during which time a large number of men spent hours dragging the lake. According to the meager information received in Ritzville, Wallace was with a party of four, who were fishing. With a stiff wind blowing, the water was rough. Whether the boat overturned or Wallace fell overboard while working on the outboard motor is not known locally. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 20, 1934, issue Julia Burroughs Made Home Here Since 1888 Julia C. Burroughs, 72, a resident of this city for 46 years, the widow of the late Dr. Frank Burroughs, pioneer Ritzville physician, died Saturday in a Spokane hospital, where she has been a patient for more than a year. The funeral was held from the Smith chapel in Spokane Tuesday, the Rev. William MacIntosh officiating. Interment was in the Riverside park cemetery. Many Ritzville people attended the funeral, five of the pallbearers being from Ritzville. They were J. L. Cross, John Kembel, E. F. Shepley, F. V. Pierce and M. F. Haight. Julia C. Clark was born Sept. 9, 1862, in Jamestown, New York, and married Dr. Frank R. Burroughs in 1883 at the home of her sister, Mrs. John Copp at Sinclairville, New York. The doctor came to Washington in the spring of 1888, locating in Ritzville, and was joined that fall by his wife and daughter Ellen. The latter died Feb. 12, 1923, and the doctor passed away Jan. 25, 1925. Mrs. Burroughs is survived by a nephew, Earle T. Copp of Lind; two aunts, Mrs. Neil B. Seaver of Corry, Pa., and Mrs. Ruth Seaver of Sinclairville, N.Y., three cousins, Miss Martha Farrie of Forrest Hills, L. I., Mrs. Agnes Taft of Monclair, New Jersey, and Dr. Harry Scott of Salt Lake. Wells Got County Seat For Ritzville Early Day Politican Dies In Spokane At Age Of 79 S. A. Wells, Adams county's first politician, is dead. The man who was instrumental in securing the division of Adams and Franklin counties from Whitman in 1883, passed away at his home in Spokane last week, at the age of 79, and funeral services were held from the Hazen Jaeger chapel Saturday afternoon. Coming to Ritzville from the east in 1883, Mr. Wells homesteaded on the land now owned and operated by the Rev. T. A. Daughters, and almost immediately became an active influential factor in the political activity of the pioneer community. Whitman county, including the territory now known as Adams and Franklin counties, had been created by the Washington territorial legislature in 1871. In 1883, shortly after his arrival here, Mr. Wells was named lobbyist by the population of Adams county, not then over 150 men, women and children, and sent to Olympia to exert pressure upon the legislature for the creation of Adams county as a distinct political and territorial unit. The creation of Adams and Franklin from Whitman was credited to Wells, as he not only drew up the bills providing for these divisions, but also suggested the county names. After the creation of the county, Wells was instrumental in securing Ritzville as the county seat. On Dec. 9, 1883, the first board of commissioners, named in the action of the legislature creating the county, met in first session and appointed Mr. Wells as the first auditor of the county. He held this office for several years, and continued his land and business interests in the county for some time. Upon his removal to Spokane many years ago, Wells was active in federal and county political circles. For a time he practiced as an attorney, was an employee of the federal land office in Spokane in the early days, and, at the time of his death, had been deputy auditor of Spokane county for eleven years. Surviving the deceased are his widow, Mrs. Anna C. Wells; two daughters, Mrs. Edna Elkins, Spokane, and Mrs. Florence Child of Portland, Oregon. Two sons also survive: Elmer C. of Tennessee, and Ray of Elk, Washington. There are ten grandchildren. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 27, 1934, issue Wilma Thom Death Shock To Friends Popular Girl Dies Unexpectedly After Operation The community was saddened this week on receipt of the news that Miss Wilma Thom, 22, popular Ritzville girl, had passed away at the St. Luke's hospital in Spokane where she had just completed a training course as a nurse, receiving her diploma with the 1934 class. At the time of her death she had but two weeks of her three years of training to be completed. She then intended coming home for a ten day visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thom, before entering active duty at the hospital. Taken ill on Wednesday of last week, a major operation was performed Saturday morning and there was nothing in the nature of the ailment to indicate she would not speedily recover. Her parents were in Spokane at the time, but had returned home following the operation, as the condition of Miss Wilma was highly satisfactory at that time. However, fat embolism, or blood clot, developed and she sank rapidly. A blood transfusion was given, without avail and Miss Wilma passed away about 9 o'clock that evening. Her family was at the bedside. The body was brought to Ritzville and the funeral was held from the Zion Congregational church Tuesday afternoon in the presence of a large concourse of relatives and friends, among the latter being 24 nurses from the hospital, where Miss Wilma was a favorite with all. The floral tributes were profuse and beautiful. The service was in charge of the pastor, Rev. J. Morach, assisted by the Rev. T. A. Daughters of the Episcopal church. Interment was in the Ritzville cemetery. Wilma Alvina Thom was born in Ritzville March 29, 1912. She attended the grade and high school, graduating with the class of 1930. She spent a year at Washington State College and then enrolled at the St. Luke's school of nursing. In addition to her parents, she is survived by three sisters, Mary, Florence and Dorothy and one brother, Raymond. Mrs. Anna M. Oestreich Dies Mrs. Anna M. Oestreich, 70, died this (Thursday) morning at the farm home of her son, Ben, following a prolonged illness. She is also survived by another son, Joe. No funeral arrangements had been made this afternoon. Owner City's First Light Plant Is Dead Last week the Journal-Times recorded the passing of S. A. Wells, Adams county's first auditor. This week we regret to announce the death of a pioneer business man of Ritzville, Charles O. Greene, who died in Spokane Sunday. C. O. Greene, brother of N. H. Greene, early day Ritzville merchant, and uncle of O. H. Greene, of Wauna, former president of the First National Bank, came to Ritzville in the early eighties and established one of the first wood, fuel and lumber yards here. He built and resided in the house now occupied by the W. C. Pence family. On Jan. 17, 1902, Mr. Greene placed in operation Ritzville's first electric light system. It was a steam-operated plant located near where the Ritzville flouring mills now stand, built at a cost of $10,000. A 20 year franchise was granted Greene's company by the city council, with an option for the city to purchase the plant at the end of five years. The private plant was absorbed a few years later by the Washington Water Power company. The deceased had lived in Spokane for many years, having retired in 1903. Funeral services were conducted from the Smith funeral home in Spokane Wednesday. Surviving the deceased are his widow, Mrs. Lizzie Greene, a son, L. G. Greene, a daughter, Mrs. L. R. Hawley, all of Spokane.