Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 6, 1950 Adams County, Ritzville, WA ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************ ==================================================================== This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sue Gardner sueboo18@hotmail.com ==================================================================== Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 6, 1950 None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 13, 1950 None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 20, 1950 None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 27, 1950 Esther E. Pearce Rites are Held in Walla Walla Funeral services for Mrs. Esther E. Pearce, 63, wife of William A. Pearce, retired pioneer banker of Adams county, who died Sunday in a Seattle hospital after an illness of several months, were held at the Cookerly-Grosclose funeral home at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. Born in Washtucna, Mrs. Pearce resided there until coming to Ritzville in 1935 where the family resided until Mr. Pearce's retirement from the banking world in 1949. The deceased was a tireless worker and besides the many duties of a housewife and mother gave freely of her time in church and women's club organizations. Mrs. Pearce was a past matron of the Ritzville order of the Eastern Star, past president of Chapter AR of PEO and Ritzville Woman's club. She was a member of the Washtucna United Presbyterian church. Mrs. Pearce attended Whitman college and developed into an accomplished musician. She maintained her interest in music until her death. Besides her widower, she is survived by two daughters, Miss Beatrice Pearce and Miss Beaulah Pearce, both of Seattle; two sons, William B. Pearce of Seattle, and Chauncy M. Pearce of Pasco; a sister, Georgia A. Bassett of Medical Lake; two brothers, Linn L. Bassett of Washtucna and Charles S. Bassett of Pullman and five grandchildren also survive. Washtucna Youth Dies Suddenly WASHTUCNA - Wayne Robinson, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Robinson of Washtucna, died suddenly from natural causes Sunday at the Clem Nunamaker farm where he was employed. His body was found in the bunkhouse that afternoon. Efforts to revive him proved futile. The boy was a war veteran. His mother is S. P. and S. agent at Washtucna. Funeral services were held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Washtucna Community church with the Rev. A. K. Walborn officiating. McLean Services Held Here Today Funeral services for Mathilda McLean, who passed away at St. Maries, Idaho, were to be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the Danekas and Duncan funeral home with the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiating. Interment will be made in the Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Hold Final Rites for Ben Gillespie, Ritzville Pioneer Final rites for Benjamin Bernard Gillespie, Adams county pioneer, who died July 19 at his home in Spokane following a year's illness, were held at 10 o'clock last Saturday morning at the Hazen and Jaeger funeral home in Spokane. The Rev. John B. MacDonald officated at the services. Mr. Gillespie settled in Adams county in 1898 and became a successful wheat farmer as well as establishing a reputation as a breeder of draft horses. He pioneered the 4-H club work in Adams county and was one of the early sponsors of the Ritzville Horse show. He moved to Spokane in 1927 where he was associated with the Catepillar Farm equipment and the John Deere Plow company. Some six years ago he returned to Ritzville and served as manager of the farm implement department of the Ritzville Trading company until his retirment some months ago. Mr. Gillespie is generally credited with owning one of the first self-propelled combines introduced in Adams county. In 1915, according to the Adams county pioneer edition of the Journal-Times, he purchased a self-propelled combine in partnership with Dan Scott. that same year Jack Danekas and Henry, John and Jake Schoesler also bought self-propelled combines. They were the first in the county's history. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Meeker Gillespie, at the home; two sons, Jess and Laurence, both of Spokane; a sister, Mrs. J. M. Cobb, Harrington; two brothers, W. A. Gillespie of Sacramento, Calif., and George Gillespie of Medical Lake; and seven grandchildren. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 3, 1950 Schneider Rites This Saturday Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday for Katherine Schneider, 81, who died on Wednesday at Ritzville General hospital. Mrs. Schneider had lived in the Ritzville area for 30 years. Survivors include her husband, Henry, at the home; two daughters, Mrs. Mary Fry of San Francisco and Mrs. Katherine Meng of Russia; and three sons, Henry, jr., of Ritzville, Jack of Puyallup, and Dave of Spokane. She was also survived by 20 grandchildren and four great-grand- children. Mrs. Schneider was a member of the Philadelphia Congregational church. The Rev. Kirschenmann will officiate at the funeral with burial in Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Norway Student Dies At Home After Ocean Trip Many residents of Ritzville were shocked to learn this week of the unexpected death of Miss Kari Hidle July 16, two days after she had returned to her home in Lierfoss, Norway, after a year spent at Eastern Washington College of Education. As a member of the EWCE student speaker's bureau, Miss Hidle made 55 appearances throughout the northwest area, including one in Ritzville sponsored by the Business and Professional Women's club. She was well acquainted with several teachers and other residents here. Miss Hidle's cousin, the former Congressman Knute Hill, wrote to the college at Cheney: "Her father wrote she arrived well and happy on Friday, July 14. Had a jolly reunion with home folks and told them about her experiences and many newfound friends. On Saturday night she, her mother and younger sister, attended some doing in the schoolhouse. "On return at midnight she said she was tired and would sleep and write some letters on Sunday. Her sister slept in the same room and not wishing to disturb her slipped down to breakfast. When dinner came and she did not appear her father went up to call her. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully but a heart attack had taken her without a pain or struggle. I fear she worked too hard at school work and speaking." 'Tucna Funeral Held Wednesday WASHTUCNA - Funeral services for Wayne Robinson, who died suddenly on Sunday, July 23, at the Clemmie Nunnamaker ranch, were held in the Washtucna Community church on Wednesday, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. A. K. Walborn officiating. Burial was in the Washtucna cemetery. Harold Wayne Robinson was born at Deer Lodge, Mont., Aug. 22, 1926. Survivors are his father, John C. Robinson, mother, Nellie Robinson; two sisters, Mrs. John Laser, Snake River, Wash., and Mrs. Arthur Surby, Sandpoint, Idaho; two brothers, Wesley E. of Centralia, Wash., and William S. of Lewiston, Idaho. He leaves also four nieces and two nephews and several aunts and uncles. Wayne served in the navy over three years and spent 20 months overseas in the last world war. He served one year in the army, receiving his discharge in 1948. McLean Funeral Is Conducted In Ritzville Rites BENGE - Funeral services were held for "Grandma" McLean on Thursday at Ritzville. She was a resident of Benge for a number of years before going to St. Maries, Idaho, to live with her daughter, Mrs. Henry Barry. Mrs. McLean had homesteaded in the Benge area in 1902 and lived there until 1943, when she moved to St. Maries. She was born in Linville, N. C., on Dec. 26, 1858, and was 91 years old when she died. Her husband had died two months earlier. Survivors include a son, B. H. McLean of Evans; two daughters, Mrs. O. I. Evanson of Sprague, and Mrs. H. L. Barry of St. Maries, Idaho; a brother, Grant Moody of North Carolina; 30 grandchildren and two great- grandchildren. The rites were conducted by the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt at the Danekas and Duncan funeral home chapel. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 10, 1950 Mrs. Jingling Funeral Is Held MOSES LAKE - Funeral services for Matilda Jingling, 75, of Moses Lake, who died last Thursday in Samaritan hospital, were held Sunday afternoon in the Moses Lake Presbyterian church. Mrs. Jingling was the mother of Fred Jingling of Ritzville. A native of Russia, Mrs. Jingling migrated to Colorado with her husband and in 1905 settled in the Ritzville area. Later they lived in Warden and Wheeler before moving to Moses Lake 22 years ago. She was a member of the Assembly of God church. The Rev. B. E. A. Hoffman and the Rev. R. J. Geria officiated at the funeral. Interment was in the Ephrata cemtery. Other survivors include five more sons, Theodore, Emanuel, Arthur, John and Edward, all of Moses Lake; one daughter, Mrs. Martha Willging of Moses Lake; eight grandchildren and two brothers, Ed Knecht of Acamp, Calif., and Simmon Knecht of Warden. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 17, 1950 Funeral Held for Pioneer McCollom, 78 Longtime County Official Dies In Seattle Hospital Funeral services were held Wednesday for one of Ritzville's most widely-known pioneers, George N. McCollom, 78. A man who spent 29 years in Adams county offices, McCollom died last Saturday in Swedish hospital in Seattle. The Rev. Clifford Knight of Trinity Methodist church officiated at the rites in the Danekas and Duncan funeral home chapel. Burial was in Ritzville Memorial cemetery. The Adams county courthouse was closed in McCollom's honor from 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday. McCollom's daughter, Mrs. Lola Clifton of Seattle, and son, Col. Loren McCollom, who is stationed with the air force at Laughlin Field, Virginia, both were present for the funeral. A brother, Ike, who lives in California was unable to attend. One of Earliest Only a handful of present day residents of Adams county arrived here before McCollom, who came to Ritzville with his father in 1886 - 64 years ago. McCollom had lived in this area ever since...taking part in its colorful and trying development from a land of sagebrush and bunch grass to the fertile, prosperous wheat-raising center it is today. Not Feeling Well He had been feeling in ill health recently and was spending most of his time under care in Seattle. Reprinted here is an article written by County Treasurer Maude A. Thiel in 1947, the year McCollom departed from the Adams county courthouse after 29 years of service in county offices: George N. McCollom, 76, who recently left the courthouse at Ritzville after 29 years of service, was born on a farm near Carthage, Ill., in 1871. In 1886, when Washington state was still a territory, he came west with his father, W. P. McCollom, landing first in Tacoma. The father, hearing of homestead land in eastern Washington came after only three weeks on the coast and took up homestead land 14 miles northwest of Ritzville. Later, in the same year, his mother, two brothers and a sister followed, arriving here on the day of George's 15th birthday. They lived in a one-room shanty with four-inch batten nailed over the cracks to keep out the weather. There were six in one room and water had to be hauled four miles for household and stock use. The country was raw, the land uncultivated, covered with sagebrush and bunch grass and it required untiring effort to get it in shape for a crop of wheat. George recalls the first field of wheat his father planted was mowed to the ground by squirrels and was a total loss. The country was full of wild and howling coyotes and George remembers this same year, though they had no wheat, they did raise some fine and luscious watermelons and that coyotes would come at night and eat them, always picking out the ripes ones. Times being hard and work scarce, the next spring, George and his brother, William, walked to Dayton, a distance of 80 miles, to obtain work. They worked on a farm at the foot of the Blue Mountains for $12.50 per month. It was while there he had a bout with pneumonia and after having paid his bills for his sickness, had only $1.65 for his summer's wages when he got back to the homestead. The next year they again went searching for work, this time finding emplopment near Waitsburg, again walking the distance. In speaking of the early homestead days, he well recalls the 1890 blizzard all the old timers talk about. "It started on New Year's eve, and blew all night, all the next day and all the next night. "I had a little old Indian cayuse that I had bought from an Indian down on the Snake river. I paid only three dollars for him and at that got cheated out of $2.95, for he was worth about five cents. "Anyway, he was out in the storm and I got worried and braved the wind and snow to search for him. I found him down and unable to stand, and almost dead. I couldn't get him home lone, so had to leave him." That was the only casualty they had. They had no water and melted snow to drink and use for cooking. Fortunately they had fuel for they had hauled in a lot of sagebrush from what is now Ruff in Grant county. An epidemic known as the Spanish flu struck the McCollom family in 1891. It was during this epidemic his mother died, leaving the boys and his sister, who was only 12 years old. The whole family was ill at one time and had to be cared for by neighbors. In the early days of homesteading, one could have was called a "timber claim quarter," in addition to a regular homestead. It required 10 acres be broken and planted to timber, and it took seven year to prove out instead of five. The elder McCollom also had a timber claim and they planted box elder and locust trees, but without water the trees would not grow. As timber claims they were unsuccessful, but if one complied with the law in planting the trees, the claim could be proved, and thus additional land was gained for the homesteader. In summers (1893-94) Mr. McCollom drove a dray in Ritzville for J. M. Kaufman. At that time the Northern Pacific railroad had no spur to the mill and everything had to be hauled by wagon and horse. The dray man handled the flour and feed shipped and all the lumber shipped into town. In 1897 he took up a homestead for himself about 10 miles west of Ritzville. Today he still has the same place with two more quarters added, making a farm of 480 acres. He married Mabel Woods in 1904. Her folks had come from Nebraska and had taken a homestead west of him. To this union were born four children, two of whom are living - Mrs. Lola Morgan, assistant postmistress at Fairbanks, Alaska, (now Mrs. Lola Clifton of Seattle) and Lt. Col. Loren McCollom. The McCollom family moved from the homestead to Ritzville in 1908, and George became a special deputy to A. J. Coss, who had been elected sheriff. He was elected sheriff in 1916, serving two terms. He said that it was open saloons when he went into office, but during his office prohibition went into effect, and he and his two deputies were kept busy running down bootleggers and moonshiners. Again the flu epidemic hit the family in 1918, and George lost his wife. Lola was 12 years old and Loren only 4-1/2. Impossible to find a desirable housekeeper, he tried to be both mother and father to his children. That he succeeded in that there is no doubt. While his son was confined to a prison camp in Germany, and month and month went by with no word from him, George's indomitable faith did not falter, for he believed his son would return safely and he did. In 1939 McCollom became deputy assessor and held that office until his retirement at the age of 76. He spent almost 30 years in the county offices, and served many years on the state inheritance board as land appraiser and during World War I was a member of the draft board. He is a staunch and fiery Democrat and has served as precinct committeeman for that party for many years. Funeral Is Held For Accident Victim, 13 PULLMAN - Funeral servics were held here Saturday morning for Lois Dunning, 19-year-old Spokane waitress killed Aug. 7 when a convertible she was riding in overturned on Highway 11 north of Ritzville. Miss Dunning was a niece of Mrs. Walter D. Gano of Othello. Funeral Conducted for Charles Honn BENGE - Funeral services were held Wednesday in Winona for Charlie Honn, father of Mrs. Norman Brown and uncle of Cleon and Keith Honn and Mrs. James Clinesmith. The Charlie Honn family lived near Benge for a time and their sons attended the Benge school. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 24, 1950 Funeral Is Held for Othello Man LIND - Graveside services for Robert Scott, 71, Othello railroad worker who died about 3 p.m. Saturday in the White hotel in Othello, were held here Wednesday afternoon at the Lind cemetery. The Rev. W. H. Ritchey of the Methodist church officiated. Scott was born in London, England, on Sept. 28, 1878. He was a veteran of the Canadian army. He worked on a section crew in Othello i 1944 and began work in the railroad shops there in 1945. He was a machinist helper. No survivors could be located. Danekas and Duncan funeral home was in charge of arrangements. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 31, 1950 Metz, Pioneer Dies in Seattle SEATTLE - George August Metz, Adams county pioneer, passed away at his Lake Forest Park home in Seattle July 30. Mr. Metz, who was 87 years old at the time of his death, was born in Marion county, Iowa, Jan. 7, 1863. He was raised and educated at Newton, Iowa, moving to Ritzville in 1900 where he was engaged in the hardware and farm machinery business. He moved to Hatton in 1902 where he operated a similar store until his retirement in 1930, when he moved to the coast. Mrs. Metz died in Seattle in 1931. Mr. Metz was active in the early days of the Columbia Basin irrigation project and lived to see his efforts rewarded. He was a life-long member of the Methodist church and served continously as Sunday school superintendent for 40 years. He was widely known throughout Adams county and was active in Republican circles in his earlier years. Mr. Metz is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Mildred Campbell, LInd; Mrs. Eloise Mohr, Seattle; and Mrs. Franchon Keller, Fairbanks, Alaska; two sons, W. W. and R. L. Metz, Seattle; two sisters, Mrs. Amelia Schlenker, Friona, Texas; and Mrs. Barbara Welty, Nevada, Mo., and six grandchildren. Mrs. Camp Hears of Death in LaGrande WASHTUCNA - Mrs. Laura Camp received word that her late husband's brother, John Camp of LaGrande, died about two weeks ago. Mr. Camp lived 28 years in LaGrande and was a stationary engineer for the U.P. railroad, and worked almost to the time of his death. He was a former resident of Washtucna. He is survived by his widow, a son, John; three brothers, James of Oakesdale, Dave of Lane, Idaho, Dick of New Hartford, Ill.; and one sister, Mrs. Billings of Rosalia, Wash. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 7, 1950 Seattle Rites for Gaiser Are Held SEATTLE - Funeral services were held Saturday for Ted E. Gaiser, former resident of Ritzville, who was killed in a traffic accident late last week. The son of Rev. and Mrs. Louis Gaiser, minister of the German Methodist church in Ritzville, Gaiser attended local schools in the early grades. He left town for some years but returned later to operate Washington Chief and Texaco service stations here. Later he worked in shipyards in Seattle. He served as a lieutenant senior grade in the navy and at the time of his death was with the General Insurance company in Portland. Survivors include six brothers, Paul of Vancouver, Sy of Salem, Ore., Louis of Chewelah, Joe of LaGrande, Ore., and Dan and Dr. David Gaiser of Spokane; two sisters, Mrs. Gordon Gilmore (Hulda) of Salem, and Mrs. Josephine Atherton Minnie of Seattle; and two children. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 14, 1950 Funeral Held for Ritzville Pioneer Funeral services for one of Ritzville's pioneer ladies, Katherine M. Wilcox, were held Monday at St. Agnes Catholic church with the Rev. C. M Depiere officiating. Burial was in Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Mrs. Wilcox, who died Sept. 10 at the age of 75, had lived in the Ritzville area 51 years. One son, John J. Burfiend of Olympia, served in the first world war and another son, Alvin A. Wilcox of Seattle, saw service in the second world war. Other survivors include two sisters, Mrs. S. J. Williams of Ritzville and Mrs. Emma Ahearin of Odessa, a brother, Frank Vostral of Scappose, Ore.; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Pallbearers at the funeral were Joe Telecky, Henry Amen, Charles Schwerin and Billy Arlt, jr., all neighbors of Mrs. Wilcox in the pioneer days. Rosary was spoken Tuesday evening in the chapel of the Danekas and Duncan funeral home, which was in charge of arrangements. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 21, 1950 Funeral Today for Ritzville Pioneer, Mrs. W. Wellsandt Funeral services for Mrs. Wilhelminia Augusta Wellsandt, 94, Ritzvile's oldest resident and one of the community's earliest pioneers, were to be held Thursday afternoon at the Lutheran church. Mrs. Wellsandt died Monday after a vigorous, fruitful life which has caused one of her longtime acquaintances to remark: "If a woman really lived rather than merely existed, it was she." Mrs. Wellsandt was one of the few surviving pioneer women of Adams county who worked shoulder-to-shoulder with her husband in developing homesteads, raising large families and earning badly-needed money on the side. Born in 1885 in Marienfield, Germany, Mrs. Wellsandt came to the United States in 1880. Three years later she was married to Johann Wellsandt in 1886 to homestead three miles east of Ritzville. The homestead farm is operated today by one of their sons, William F. Wellsandt. Typical Day Told A typical day in Mrs. Wellsandt's pioneer-day life was described this week by one of her family. She would arise almost before dawn, prepare breakfast for the family, then walk the three miles into Ritzville carrying her youngest baby and a load of butter and eggs. In Ritzville she would exchange the butter and eggs for groceries. Then she would wash clothing all day for the Whittlesey, Finley, Sinclair and Born families in particular it was recalled, receiving 50 cents for her day's labor. At evening time Mrs. Wellsandt would carry the baby and groceries back to the homestead, then depart again with her oldest son, Karl, to bring in the cows. Since there were no fences, the cows often wandered long distances away from home - once as far as Keystone. Occasionally the cattle would become unruly, and one they "treed" Mrs. Wellsandt and her son on a pile of rocks for several hours before wandering off. On the way home with the cattle, Mrs. Wellsandt would gather sagebrush for a cooking fire and sometimes the eggs of sage hens, a treat for the family dinner. After supper, the pioneer woman might spend the evening sewing until bedtime. This went on, not day after day, but year after year. Frequently Mrs. Wellsandt worked shoulder-to-shoulder with her husband and sons in the fields. When the Wellsandt's new house was built in 1906, Mrs. Wellsandt found herself cooking for 30 to 40 harvesters and carpenters as well as taking care of her family. she improvised a cradle for the youngest baby by putting two broom handles under a box so she could rock it back and forth. Remained Active Even in the later years, Mrs. Wellsandt was an extremely active woman. Preceded in death by her husband and two small children, she was a lifelong member of Emanuel Lutheran church and the German Ladies Aid. Survivors include two daughters, Lena Dehnel, Ralston, and Mrs. Minnie Gaskill, Ritzville; five sons, Karl, John, William and Emil, all of Ritzville, and Henry of Dayton; 16 grandchildren and 25 great- grandchildren. The Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiated at the funeral. Burial was in the Lutheran cemetery with the Danekas and Duncal funeral home in charge of arrangements. Funeral Services Conducted for Calvin Long, 74 Calvin Long, a pioneer of Adams county, passed away at the Rockwood clinic in Spokane Sept. 15 after an illness of several months. Elton Bryan of Bryan funeral home, Chewlah, a close friend of the deceased directed the service held at the Sunset Memorial chapel Monday, Sept. 18. Rev. McQueen of the Congregational church officiated. Interment was at Fairmount cemetery. Calvin Perrin Long, son of Clark and Ara Ann Long, was born at Whitton, Iowa, April 4, 1876. In 1883 he came with his parents to Ritzville where he lived until 1889. He homesteaded near Paha in that year. Since 1914 he had resided at Danville, Spokane, on Half Moon Prairie. On June 12, 1906, he was united in marriage to Anna Miller, who survives him. He also leaves four daughters, Mrs. Elsie Davis, Spokane; Mrs. Esther Hamilton, Spokane; Mrs. Lula Simsick, Pueblo, Colo., and Veda of Denison; two sons, Harvey of Spokane, and Mick of Denison; one brother, Joseph B. of Washtucna; three sisters, Mrs. Myrtle Dunlap, Elmer City; Mrs. Maude Collier, Steptoe, Wash.; and Mrs. Hazel Sullivan, Washtucna; five grandchildren and many nephews and nieces. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 28, 1950 None