Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 3, 1941 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 3, 1941, issue P. L. Franz Rites Held Last Week West End Farmer Died In Spokane Funeral services for P. L. Franz, 67, Adams county pioneer who died last Tuesday in a Spokane hospital, were held Friday at the Menno Mennonite church, 20 miles west of here, with the Rev. Edmund Miller officiating. Burial was in the Mennonite cemetery, adjoining the church. Mr. Franz was well-known throughout Adams county and his death was a shock to his many friends, although he had been in ill health for some time. He died shortly after an abdominal operation at St. Luke's hospital. Peter L. Franz was born at Crimea, Russia, and came to this country with his parents when he was one year old. They settled in South Dakota. On Jan. 9, 1902, he was married to Agnetha Ewert in South Dakota, and the couple came west the same year, settling near Warden and later moving to the Schrag district. He was a school director in the Schrag district for 25 years and still held that position at the time of his death. He was also a member of Pomona grange. Mr. Franz was active in church work, having been a teacher of the men's German Bible class of the Mennonite church. Besides his widow, Mr. Franz is survived by four sons, Walter, Victor, Albert and Arnold of Schrag; two daughters, Bertha and Sylvia of Schrag; four brothers and one sister, Mrs. C. C. Allert of Pullman. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 10, 1941, issue Hold Service For Heier WASHTUCNA - The funeral of Emanuel P. Heier, 37, U. P. watchman, whose crushed and broken body was picked up on the railroad tracks at Hooper Junction, Saturday morning, was held on Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Community church, the Rev. A. K. Walborn officiating. Burial was in the local cemetery. At first it was thought that he had evidently fallen asleep on the track and been run over, but the absence of blood seemed to prove that death had resulted from natural causes and the body had been dismembered later. Mr. Heier was born in Rumania, April 11, 1904. He is survived by his wife, Lydia, and four children, Sadie Jean, Edna Eleana, Russell and Donald. His father, four brothers, John, Jake, Sam and Emil, and four sisters, Esther, Mary, Leona and Mrs. Sam Suko, all resding in North Dakota also survive him. Mrs. Nitschke of Washtucna is a sister-in-law. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 17, 1941, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 24, 1941, issue John Hawks Was Benge Pioneer Funeral services were held in Waitsburg recently for John L. Hawks of Benge, who died Friday, July 11, in a Spokane hospital. Services were held at the Methodist church. Mr. Hawks was born in Waitsburg in 1888. In 1912, he was married to Clara Beckley. He farmed at Waitsburg until 1928 when he moved to Benge, where he farmed until the time of his death. He was a member of the Methodist church and Oddfellows lodge of Waitsburg, overseer of the Benge grange and a member of the board of directors of the Big Bend Electric Co-op. REA project here. Besides his widow, he is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Carol King, Mrs. Firth Chew and Gloria Hawks, all of Spokane; Mrs. Bonnie Jones of Hermiston, Ore., Joan Hawks of Benge; and one son, Herbert, of Benge. Rev. Koontz Was Preacher Here Rev. Bracken E. Koontz, pastor of the Trinity Methodist church here from 1904 to 1908, died last week in Yakima, according to word received here by friends. Reverend Koontz' father founded the church here. Rev. and Mrs. Koontz were among the former pastors who attended the 50th anniversary of the founding of the church here in 1939 and he took part in the program. Funeral services were held in Yakima last Friday and graveside services were conducted at a Spokane cemetery Saturday. Henry Melcher Came Here in '01 Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the Emanuel Lutheran church for Henry Melcher, 61, Ritzville pioneer who died Sunday at a Spokane hospital, with the Rev. I. Harold Kuester officiating. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Mr. Melcher was born Nov. 25, 1879, at Brunnenthal, Russia. He was married to Miss Katherine Kammercell Dec. 27, 1897, and the couple came to the United States in 1899, settling first at Lincoln, Neb. Later they came to Sugar City, Colo., then to Portland, Ore., and in 1901 they homesteaded in Adams county, living here since that time. Besides his widow, he is survived by three sons, Jake, Henry, Jr., and Carl, all of Ritzville; and nine daughters, Mrs. Pauline Linger, Yakima; Mrs. Helen Moeller, Tacoma; Mrs. Esther Rice, Irby; Mrs. Marie Hornby, Spokane; Mrs. Alvina Haase, Odessa; Mrs. Eva Kapple, Hartline; Mrs. Eleanor Schell, Odessa; Mrs. Clara Becker, Ritzville; and Mrs. Alma Keller, Sprague. John Willis, Pioneer Who Saw County Grow, Dies One of the county's most colorful pioneers, John A. Willis, 82, died Sunday at his home in Seattle, and funeral services were held at the Haight Funeral parlor here Wednesday with burial in the Ritzville cemetery. The Rev. Arthur J. Stott officiated. Mr. Willis came to Ritzville in the spring of 1886, homesteading 11 miles northwest of here and lived in the county until about 11 years ago, when he moved away. When he first arrived here, there was only one grave in the cemetery and nothing but bunch grass east of the railroad tracks. He was one of the few pioneers that braved the blizzard of 1889-90, when many farmers fed their stock the straw from their bed mattresses. He installed the first telephone in rural Adams county, using barbed wire and his home as a switchboard office, Mrs. Willis acting as operator. For a number of years, a post office also was stationed in his ranch home. Mr. Willis served four years as county commissioner. The Willis school district was named after him, as was the Willis precinct. Probably, he will be remembered best by the explosion which blew away part of his left hand. He often spoke of how grateful he was to his neighbors who came to help several times that spring, doing his plowing and seeding and using their own teams, equipment and time. Not being able to do his field work that spring, he spent his time trapping squirrels and earned a $51 bounty by catching over 5,000 squirrels, on which there was a bounty of one cent each. Mr. Willis always prized his thoroughbred draft horses and will long be remembered for his interest in horses, vegetable growing and the resort on Sprague lake, which still bears his name. He often spoke of the times when the roads were so dusty and full of chuck holes it was necessary to be tied to the wagon seat. John Albert Willis was born Jan. 1, 1859, in Iowa, and was married to Mary Mewhirter when he was 23. Eight children were born to them, of which four are still living. He is survived by three sons, Wroe of Worcester, Mass., J. C. "Nick" of Portland and Jay of Seattle; one daughter, Mrs. Chloe College of Tacoma; one brother, T. S. of Addy; and two sisters, Mrs. A. V. Wain of Holyoke, Colo., and Mrs. C. H. Bicknell of Portland, Ore. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 31, 1941, issue Frank M. Jones Once Lived Here Frank M. Jones, one-time Ritzville resident and a brother of Mrs. W. H. Landreth, died Friday at his home in Blaine, Wash., and funeral services were held there Tuesday. He was 50 years old. Mr. Jones came to Ritzville in 1893 with his parents from Gowrie, Iowa, where he was born June 27, 1891. His parents built the house now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Farrier. He was graduated from the high school here in 1909 and attended the University of Washington, after working for a time in the bank at Kahlotus. He was married to Miss Lula Mower in 1905 and the pair taught school in Alaska for two years. She died in 1934 and in 1935, he married Miss Leota Bice of Blaine. He and his first wife spent six years in Philadelphia and Berlin, N. H. At one time Mr. Jones was a chemist, but in recent years he had been city clerk of Blaine. Besides his widow, he is survived by a four-year-old daughter, Elizabeth; one brother, Elmer of Seattle; and a sister, Mrs. W. H. Landreth of Ritzville. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 7, 1941, issue Morach Funeral Will Be Friday Pioneer Minister Succumbed Tues. One of Ritzville's oldest pioneer, the Rev. Jacob Morach, died Tuesday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. David Hoefel, and funeral services will be held tomorrow (Friday) at the Philadelphia Congregational church. The services will be conducted by three ministers. The Rev. William Aumann of Spokane, a classmate of Rev. Morach at theological school in Switzerland, will preach in German, Rev. H. Neutzmann of Ritzville will give the eulogy in German and Rev. P. Ruder of Ritzville will sermonize in English. Burial will be in the Ritzville cemetery. Rev. Morach came to Ritzville in 1912 and had lived here since that time. He was pastor of the Philadelphia Congregational church for 12 years after his arrival. At the end of 12 years he was eligible for retirement, but served the Zion Congregational church three years, the county line Congregational church for two years and the Lind church for two years since that time. In addition, he helped out at various times when churches in this area were temporarily without pastors. Rev. Morach was born June 14, 1859, at Schoeftland, Switzerland, and was married to Elizabeth Waecherling in 1887, and the couple came to the United States that same year, settling first at Princeton, Neb. He had received his theological training at St. Chrischona college in Basel, Switzerland. His first pastorate in the United States was at Avoca, Iowa, and he was later transferred to Eureka, S. D. He also served for a time at Fairfax, S. D., and then came to Ritzville in 1912. On Aug. 2, 1936, he and Mrs. Morach were honored on the 50th anniversary of his entering the ministry. Besides his widow, he is survived by three sons, Paul of Ritzville, Albert of Seattle, and Walter of Yakima; four daughters, Mrs. M. L. Parish, Murdo, S. D., Mrs. Emil Hoefel, Spokane; Mrs. David Hoefel and Mrs. R. E. Edwards, both of Ritzville. Hold Last Rites For Simon Kison Funeral services were held at the Philadelphia Congregational church for Simon Kison, 78, Ritzville pioneer who died Friday at his home here. The Rev. R. Kirschenmann officiated. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Mr. Kison was born July 9, 1863, at Kulm, Russia, and was married in 1886 to Miss Justina Quaschnick. They came to the United States that same year, settling in Parkston, S.D. Later they moved to Kulm, N. D., living there five years before coming to Spokane in 1891, and to Ritzville two years later, where they farmed. His wife preceded him in death by only a few months. He is survived by one son, Reinhold of Wendall, Ida.; three daughters, Mrs. Dan Hille and Mrs. Alfred Suko, Ralston; and Mrs. Bertha Gust, Millwood. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 14, 1941, issue Bisson Infant Dies WASHTUCNA - Carrie Rae, 7 week old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Max Bisson, passed away Saturday in the Sacred Heart hospital in Spokane. The infant had been placed in an oxygen tent, in an effort to save her life, but to no avail. She is survived by one brother, Frank. Funeral services will be held in Spokane, Tuesday, and burial will be there. Mr. and Mrs. Bisson returned from Spokane, Sunday, accompanied by Mrs. Leo Bisson, planning to go back Tuesday for the funeral. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 21, 1941, issue Luther Womach Pioneered Here Funeral services were held Monday at Walla Walla for Luther Womach, 81, former Adams county resident who died Aug. 13 at his home in Burbank, Calif. Mr. Womach lived in Ritzville 26 years, coming here to homestead in 1889 and moving to Cheney in 1915 to be with his parents and sister. In 1926 Mr. Womach moved to Walla Walla where he lived with his sister and in 1940 they moved to Burbank, where he died. He was born Nov. 10, 1859, at Atchison, Kan. He was a member of the Christian church and the I.O.O.F. lodge. Burial was in the family plot at Cheney. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Mary S. Hansen, of Burbank. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 28, 1941, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 4, 1941, issue Hold Last Rites For Mr. Dehnel Funeral services were held this afternoon at the Emanuel Lutheran church for Albert Dehnel, Sr., 86, Ritzville pioneer who died Sunday at his home here. Burial was in the Lutheran cemetery. Mr. Dehnel was born Aug. 4, 1855, in Pomerania, Germany, and came to the United States when he was two years old, with his parents settling near Wausau, Wis. In 1879, he was married to Miss Magalena Saager. The couple lived for some time in Wisconsin and in Council Bluffs, Iowa, three years before moving to Adams county in 1900, settling on Rattlesnake Flat, southeast of Ralston. He is survived by three sons, Albert of Ralston, William of Long Beach, Calif., and Richard of Ritzville; one daughter, Mrs. Henry Pfannekuchen of Ritzville. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 11, 1941, issue Beckley Brothers Lived In Benge Two former Benge youths, Guy and Harold Beckley, are dead as a result of a tragic automobile crash last Friday night near Colville. The two brothers were nephews of Herb Beckley, Mrs. John Hawks and Allen and Roy Scott, prominent Benge residents, and Will Scott of Washtucna. Their parents are Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Beckley of Bossberg, former Benge pioneers. The boys were enroute from their home to a high school dance in Colville when the car in which they were riding collided with a house that was being moved. Investigation has revealed there were no lights on the house. Guy Beckley, 18, was killed instantly, and Harold died Saturday. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 18, 1941, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 25, 1941, issue Ohland's Infant Daughter Succumbs The infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Ohland died Saturday morning. Interment was in the Ritzville cemetery. Mrs. Henry Thiel Funeral Today Mrs. Henry A. Thiel, 67, Ritzville pioneer, died Monday at her home here and funeral services were held this afternoon at the Philadelphia Congregational church with the Rev. R. Kirschenmann officiating. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Alice Elizabeth Thiel, nee Achziger, was born Dec. 2, 1873, in Brunnenthal, Russia. She came to the United States with her parents who homesteaded near Ritzville. On Feb. 2, 1891, she was married to Henry Thiel. The couple moved to Ritzville in 1907. Mrs. Thiel had been in ill health for many years. Her husband preceded her in death. She is survived by two sons, Reuben of Tacoma and Solomon of Ritzville; one daughter, Mrs. William Oestreich, Ritzville; one brother, Jacob Achziger, Modesto, Calif.; and one sister, Mrs. P. B. Hunt of Ritzville. Dorothy M. Rice Dies In Spokane Dorthy Mae Rice, nine-year-old daughter of Mrs. Pearl Rice, Ritzville beauty operator, died early Tuesday morning at a Spokane hospital following a serious attack of appendicitis. She was born in Kalispell, Mont., but has lived in Ritzville for some time and was attending school here. The body was taken to Kalispell for funeral services and burial. Hold Last Rites For Mrs. G. Haaf Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the Philadelphia Congregational church for Mrs. George Haaf, 84, mother of Mrs. H. Nuetzmann, who died Monday at the home of her daughter. The Rev. R. Kirschenmann officiated. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Emma Emelie Haaf was born April 17, 1857, in Markersdorf, Germany. She was married to George C. Haaf in 1885 in Germany and the couple came to the United States in 1909, settling at Grand Forks, N. D. Mr. Haaf died shortly after they came to the United States and since that time she has made her home with her daughter and only child, Mrs. Nuetzmann. Besides her daughter, she is survived by 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.