Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 6, 1939 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 6, 1939, issue William Yohnka Dies In Sprague Monday Funeral services for William F. Yohnka, 75, pioneer auctioneer of the Big Bend district who died Monday at Sprague, were held Wednesday in Sprague at the Jerue Chapel. Mr. Yohnka, who was known as "Colonel" to many of his friends, was born at Kankakee, Ill., and came west in 1897. He lived at Colfax, Ritzville, Prosser and Sprague Surviving are three sons, Noble and Gayland, Sprague, and Alfred, Kankakee; a daughter, Mrs. Golda Clark, Sprague, and four grandchildren. Mrs. Henry Woehr Passes In Seattle Mrs. Henry Woehr of Seattle, died April 4, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Frank Perkins. Mrs. Woehr had been confined to her bed more than a year. Mrs. Woehr was 77 years of age. She is survived by her husband, Henry Woehr, daughter, Mabel Perkins, sons Ray Thompson of Lodi, Calif., Floyd Thompson, Los Angeles, Calif. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at Seattle and the burial services will be held in Ritzville Friday morning from the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Woehr was a resident for a number of years in Ritzville. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 13, 1939, issue Funeral Is Held For Miss Leonard Funeral services for Miss Faith Leonard, 33, who died Sunday in Spokane, were held Tuesday at the Baptist church in Spokane with the Rev. Nelson officiating. Burial was in the Greenwood cemetery beside her grandparents. Miss Leonard never recovered fully from a major operation performed recently and suffered a nervous breakdown which proved fatal. She was born near Ralston, Dec. 9, 1905, and was graduated from the Washtucna high school and attended Washington State college one year. Besides her mother, Mrs. Dora Leonard, she is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Thelma Sitton, Washtucna; Esther Kinzel, Reno, Nev., and Margaret, at home; five brothers, Raymond, Ralston; Carl, Loveland, Colo.; Robert, Loveland, Colo.; Dean and Howard, Ritzville. Last Rites Held For Mrs. J. Eaton Funeral services for Mrs. James T. Eaton of Spokane, mother of Mrs. Guy Stafford of Ralston and grandmother of Mrs. Harold Bauer of Ritzville, who died Tuesday, were held this afternoon from the Smith Funeral Parlors in Spokane. Mrs. Eaton had been bed ridden for the past three years. She was born in Missouri in 1856 and came west in 1883 with her husband. The family pioneered at Fairfield when the country was still open territory. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton farmed for many years on their original homestead near Fairfield, retiring 37 years ago to make their home in Spokane. Mrs. Eaton is survived by two daughters, Mrs. H. R. Sawin of Spokane and Mrs. Guy C. Stafford of Ralston; a son, Arch, of Spokane. Mrs. Harold Bauer and Marion and Bill Stafford are her grandchildren. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 20, 1939, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 27, 1939, issue J. E. Blaylock Dies In Moscow, Idaho HATTON - Upon receiving a telephone message telling of her father's passing, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Cottingham left for Moscow to attend the funeral services held Tuesday. J. E. Blaylock was born Oct. 2, 1856, in Missouri, and passed away April 23, at Moscow, Ida. With his family he came to Washington in the early 1900s and farmed there for a number of years. Surviving him are two sons and three daughters: Floyd of Moscow; Alvie, Baker, Ore.; Mrs. Ethel Evans, Tacoma; Mrs. Grace Gilliam of Potlatch and Mrs. Ressie Cottingham, Hatton, and also several grandchildren. Mrs. Blaylock died in 1911, two children in infancy and two sons, Jesse and Eddie, in early manhood. Mr. Blaylock had been bedfast for a number of years and passed away at a nurses home in Moscow. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 4, 1939, issue Mother Of Mrs. M. Thiel Passes Mrs. Maude A. Thiel, county superintendent of schools, received word Friday of the death of her mother, Mrs. W. Y. Johnson, at Carthage, Mo., her home, that day. Mrs. Johnson was 84 years of age and visited in Ritzville last summer, making the trip by automobile. She is survived by two sons, Edgar of Cathage, and Everett of Oakland, Calif., and six daughters, Mrs. Ed Troutman and Mrs. John McWilliams of Carthage; Mrs. Harlan Roper, Dallas, Tex.; Mrs. E. R. Oldham, Avilla, Mo.; Mrs. G. C. Dawson, Hood River, Ore.; and Mrs. Thiel. She is also survived by 27 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 11, 1939, issue James H. Tate Is Buried In Okla. Old-Timer Died On April 28th James H. Tate, 83, Ritzville pioneer who died April 28, was at one-time county game warden and also a sign-painter of good reputation. Many of the signs he painted years ago can still be seen around the city. Mr. Tate had been ill about three years prior to his death. He was born Oct. 18, 1855, and came to Adams county over 40 years ago. Although he never married, he was very fond of children and was the idol of all the children in the city when he was younger because he was so kind to them. The story is told that "Jim" always carried a pocketfull of candy which he rationed out to his youthful admirers from time to time. He ran the concessions at the Pioneer picnic many years ago and also operated some of the concessions at the rodeos which were formerly held here. Most present Ritzville residents can remember "Jim" and his dog, "Boy," a friendly pointer, who lived mostly on candy. "Boy: was killed about two years ago when he became sick and showed no signs of recovery. Mr. Tate is survived by four brothers, J. S. Tate of Gotebo, Okla.; Bob Tate of Omaha, Neb.; Charles Tate of Los Angeles, Calif., and George Tate, address unknown. The body was cremated and the ashes taken to Norman, Okla., for interment in the family plot. Mrs. J. H. Barrett Dies OTHELLO - Funeral services for Mrs. Joseph Barrett, 49, of Othello, who died last Thursday, were held Monday in Ellensburg with the Rev. Schoonover of the Othello Christian church officiating at the Hunnicutt chapel. Burial was in the Ellensburg cemetery. Lora Barrett nee Raymond was born Nov. 23, 1890, in Austin, Minn. Her father, Nathan M. Raymond, was engineer of the first wrecking outfit that came into this section on the Milwaukee railroad. Her husband, formerly a union labor organizer, is now an employee of the Milwaukee railroad and mayor of Othello. Besides her widower, she is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Jessamine Holman of St. Helens, Calif., and Mrs. Loyd Collins of Honolulu, Hawaii; and three children, Miss Bertha Barrett, teaching at Newport, Mrs. Ila Doyle and Geo. Barrett. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 18, 1939, issue Mrs. Bruno Geitz Dies In Riverside, Calif. Word was received here of the death of Mrs. Bruno Geitz of Riverside, Calif., on May 3. She will be remembered by Ritzville friends as Mrs. Bertha Carlson, a daughter of the late W. H. Howland, a pioneer of Ritzville. She is survived by one daughter in California and her aunt, Mrs. Frank Frost of Ritzville. Victor Mason Is Suicide Victim WASHTUCNA - Victor Mason, 51, former Washtucna resident, committed suicide at his home in LaGrande, Ore., last Friday morning, according to word received here this week. He was found in the basement of his office and is believed to have shot himself with a rifle. Ill health for a number of years is believed to have driven him to despondency. Mr. Mason came to Washtucna about 11 years ago from Helix, Ore., to operate the warehouse of the Northwestern Dock & Elevator company, which later became the warehouse of the Washtucna Grain Growers. He continued as manager until two years ago when he resigned and went to LaCrosse to manage the warehouse there. He then bought a store and service station near Sunnyside and remained there until last October when he sold the store and went to LaGrande as manager for the grain growers there. He served as town clerk for Washtucna several years. Mrs. Mason is his only survivor. Funeral services and burial was in Prosser Sunday. Hold Last Rites For John Vehrs Funeral services were held this morning at the Zion Congregational church here for John Vehrs, 71, one of the early pioneers of Adams county who died Tuesday at his home in Spokane. Mr. Vehrs had been in ill health for some time but the immediate cause of his death was a paralytic stroke. Interment will be in the Ritzville cemetery. He came here many years ago and settled where Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Sumpter now live. He has been living in Spokane since 1933. Mr. Vehrs is survived by three sons, Joe, Ritzville, and Peter and Edward, Spokane; and four daughters, Mrs. Harvey Sumpter, Ritzville; Gretchen Vehrs, Portland; Mrs. Anna Wren, Bremerton and Mrs. Dora Poole, Alaska. Mrs. J. J. Arnst Dies In Spokane Hospital Mrs. J. J. Arnst of Ritzville passed away Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock at St. Lukes hospital. She had been in the hospital a week but had been operated on six weeks previously. Funeral arrangements have not been made as yet. Mrs. Arnst was a resident of Adams county for 40 years. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 25, 1939, issue Hold Last Rites For Mrs. J. Arnst Funeral services for Mrs. J. J. Arnst, 69, Ritzville pioneer who died last week were held Saturday at the Philadelphia Congregational church with the Rev. H. Nuetzmann officiating. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Mary Christina Arnst nee Winters was born in Straub, Russia, May 9, 1870, and was married Jan. 28, 1893, to John Jacob Arnst. In 1899 they came to the United States, residing first in Nebraska. They lived in that state two years, after which they came west to Ritzville and took up a homestead about 20 miles west of here. In 1910, they gave up farming and moved to Ritzville. Besides her widower, she is survived by two sons, John and Geo. both of Ritzville; four daughters, Mrs. Mary Pauley, Toppenish, Mrs. Katie Kister, Irby; Mrs. Anna Thurman, Yakima; Mrs. Lydia Werttemberger, Ritzville; a sister and a brother, both living in Fresno, Calif. Ritzville Man Suicide Victim Ernest Geschwind, 53-year-old Ritzville hatchery operator, committed suicide in the county jail Saturday night by hanging himself from a steam pipe with a noose fashioned from chains used to support bunks in his cell. The tragedy was discovered by Sheriff Joe Schafer when he entered the jail about 9 a.m. Sunday to give Geschwind his breakfast. Geschwind was ordered held in the county jail 60 days under a peace bond, following a hearing given him Saturday before Justice J. P. Koch. He had made several previous atttempts to commit suicide. No funeral services were held. His body was shipped to Spokane for cremation. Funeral Held For Karl Braun Pioneer Died Monday At Home Here Funeral services for Karl Braun, 79, colorful Ritzville figure who died Monday at his home here, were held this afternoon at the Emanuel Lutheran church here with the Rev. E. A. Rein officiating. Burial was in the Lutheran cemetery. Mr. Braun had been in excellent health until last weekend when he felt slightly indisposed and went to bed Monday. He became worse and called a doctor but the doctor arrived too late. Karl Braun was born Feb. 18, 1860, in Colberg, Germany, and came to the United States in 1885, settling in Chicago. In 1893, he was married in Naperville, Ill., and he and his bride came to Adams county about six years later. They took up a homestead four miles north of Lind in 1902 and remained there until 1910 when they moved to Ritzville. Before coming to this country, Mr. Braun was five years with the German army and served in the Richmond artillery during the reign of Bismarck, fighting in the Franco-Prussian war. He had an eviable reputation in Ritzville as a brick-layer and plasterer and won a host of friends with his pleasant disposition. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Harold Streeter, Ritzville; Mrs. Carl Koehler, Paha; and Mrs. Rheinhold Zumdle, Ruff; and one sister, Berlin, Germany. Hold Last Rites For Mr. Janssen Funeral services for Gerd Janssen, 83, pioneer who died last Thursday morning at his home here following an illness of about six weeks, were held Sunday afternoon at the Methodist Episcopal church here with Mr. McCoy of Spokane officiating. Burial was in the city cemetery. Mr. Janssen was born in Germany April 22, 1856. He was one of the early pioneers of this country and retired from active farming about 25 years ago, turning over his ranch to his son, J. G. Janssen. He is survived by three children, J. G. Janssen, Ritzville; Mrs. O. B. Johnson, Boise, Ida.; and Herman Janssen, Ritzville. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 1, 1939, issue Dr. T. B. Hauschild Dies In Kennewick Dr. T. B. Hauschild of Kennewick, one-time Ritzville resident, died recently at his home in Kennewick from a sudden heart attack. McManamon Dies LIND - Funeral services for George Washington McManamon, 74, were held here at the Methodist church Sunday afternoon, with the Rev. J. H. Bennett officiating. Burial was made in the Lind cemetery. He was born in Ulrich Gultch, Mont., on Oct. 7,1864. Mr. McManamon has lived in this district over 60 years and was actively engaged in farming. He has also been a member of the K. P. Lodge for over 40 years. Surviving his death are: one brother, James, of Othello, one sister, Mrs. William Barnes, of Tacoma; one son, Gilbert, of Everett, an adopted son, Ervin, Lacey, and one daughter, Mrs. Leota Longmeir of Lind. Hold Last Rites LIND - Funeral services for Nancy J. Knottingham, 77, were held in the Methodist church Thursday afternoon of this week, with the Rev. J. H. Bennett officiating. Mrs. Knottingham is one of the oldest pioneers of the Roxboro district where she came from Pendleton, Ore., and homesteaded 42 years ago. Her maiden name was Brooker. She was married to William Knottingham in 1879. She was born in Missouri, Sept. 16, 1861, and died May 26, 1939. She is survived by two sisters, Mollie Redinger and Lizzie Williams of Napoleon; two brothers, John and Tom Brooker of Napoleon. Her husband, W. S. Knottingham of Roxboro, Donald of Ness, Ore., Orville of Costemasa, and two daughters, Mattie Knottingham and Susan Borgeson of Roxboro. The body was in charge of the Precht funeral home and interment was made in the local cemetery. Hold Last Rites For Miss Koehler Funeral services for Miss Helen Henrietta Koehler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Koehler of Paha, who died Saturday in a Spokane hospital, were held Tuesday afternoon at the Emanuel Lutheran church here with the Rev. E. A. Rein officiating. Burial was in the Lutheran cemetery. Miss Koehler, who was only 16 years old, died from blood poisoning which spread from an infected toe. She was a member of the sophomore class of the Lind high school. Miss Koehler was born Sept. 2, 1922, near Paha, where she had since lived. Besides her parents, she is survived by four sisters, Dorothy, Emma, Julia and Eleanor; and one brother, Donald. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 8, 1939, issue Funeral Sunday For Mrs. Schafer Funeral services for Mrs. Jacob Schafer, 74, Ritzville pioneer who died Wednesday morning, will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Philadelphia Congregational church with the Rev. H. Nuetzmann officiating. Burial will be in the Ritzville cemetery. Mrs. Schafer had been ill for about five years and died Wednesday about 8 a.m., following a paralytic stroke which she suffered last Saturday morning. Mary Katherine Schafer nee Weidemann was born Oct. 11, 1864, in Frank, Russia. She was married in 1885 to Jacob Schafer and in 1891 they came to the United States, settling first in Bickleton, Wash. In 1900, they moved to a farm 15 miles northwest of Ritzville and in 1920 retired to Ritzville. Besides her widower, she is survived by three sons, Henry, Ritzville; Reuben, New York; and Leslie, Spokane; six daughters, Mrs. C. J. Oestreich, Ritzville; Mrs. George Kiehn, Spokane; Mrs. Willie Butler, Bremerton; Mrs. George Greenwald, Bremerton and Mrs. H. Klapper, Klamath Falls, Ore. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 15, 1939, issue Hold Last Rites For Miss Lenhart Funeral services for Miss Dorothy Lenhart, six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lenhart of Odessa, who died last Friday, were held Sunday in Odessa at the Congregational church. Little Miss Lenhart underwent an appendix operation Tuesday of last week, but the operation came too late to save her life. She died Friday. She was sick only a few days before the operation. Miss Lenhart was born May 22, 1933, in Odessa. Besides her parents, she is survived by three sisters, Laverna, Wilma and Loretta and a brother, Wayne. Mrs. K. Becker Dies Friday In Wapato Mrs. Katie Becker, of Wapato, Wash., former resident of Ritzville for many years, died last Friday at a Yakima hospital, where she had been confined for the past six months. On June 13, she would have been 56 years old. Her husband, John E. Becker, preceded her in death two years ago. She is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Esther Miller, Toppenish; Mrs. Elsie Besel, Waterville; Mrs. Lydia Besel, Wapato; Mrs. Alice Wurl, Yakima, Miss Martha Becker at the home and seven grandchildren. Burial was in the Tahoma cemetery at Yakima after funeral services at the Wapato funeral home. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 22, 1939, issue Dust Blamed For Fatal Accident Ralph Schrag Fatally Injured Dust was blamed today by the sheriff's office for the fatal injury to Ralph Schrag, 36, Ritzville farmer, who died last night at Sacred Heart hospital, Spokane, less than 12 hours after his automobile collided almost head-on with a heavy truck two miles south of Batum on the Batum road. Sheriff Joe Schafer said this morning that neither driver was blamed for the accident and that it was due to heavy dust on the highway. A car driven by Schrag collided with a truck driven by Tennis Tennison of Lind. Tennison's truck was following closely behind another truck and the dust raised by the first vehicle evidently obscured Schrag's vision of the second truck as he met it on the highway. So terrific was the impact of the collision that the heavy truck was overturned and the Schrag car almost completely demolished. The bed of the truck virtually sheared off the left-hand side of the body of Schrag's auto. First aid was given Schrag by an Odessa doctor and he was rushed to Spokane in an ambulance. Funeral services have been set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Menno church, 20 miles west of Ritzville. Mr. Schrag is survived by his mother, Mrs. Mary Schrag, Ritzville; two brothers, William, Ritzville; Benjamin, Spokane; and two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Thomas, Spokane and Mrs. Elma Elmer of Yakima. Schrag had been visiting at the Ed Kiesz farm near Batum and was returning to his home about 18 miles west of Ritzville on the old Neppel road when the accident occurred. The trucks were heading for the Schafer ranch to pick up a load of scrap iron. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 29, 1939, issue Hold Funeral Services For Mr. Schrag Funeral services for Ralph Schrag, 36, farmer who was fatally injured in an automobile accident last Wednesday, were held Saturday afternoon at the Menno Mennonite church, 19 miles west of here, with the Rev. M. J. Galle officiating. Burial was in the Menno cemetery. A car driven by Mr. Schrag collided almost head-on with a truck driven by Tennis Tennison of Lind about two miles south of Batum, fatally injuring him. Ralph Schrag was born Oct. 2, 1902, at the Schrag farm west of Ritzville, and has lived there all his life. Since 1922, he has been farming the place for his mother. Besides his mother, Mrs. Mary Schrag, he is survived by two brothers, William of Ritzville and Benjamin of Spokane; and two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Thomas of Spokane and Mrs. Elma Elmer of Yakima. Charles W. Lee Dies At Ranch Charles Wilson Lee was found dead at his place 20 miles east of Ritzville, June 18 by John and Walter Bennings and Bob Telecky. He had been dead several days before found. Mr. Lee was 80 years old, and had lived in this territory for 49 years. He was born at Dallas, Ore., and is survived by a sister, it is believed. Funeral arrangements are awaiting word from his sister. Graveside services were held for Mr. Lee Sunday at the Ritzville cemetery by the Rev. Richard Decker.