Patterson and Grayson Obituaries 1918 page 1
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Patterson Irrigator, January 1918
No obituaries found in the month of January.
Adams, Earnest M 18-11-09 p1
Young Trainman is Accidentally Killed Accident on P. & W. Falling beneath a moving ore train at the Crome Concentrating Plant on the Patterson and Western Railway, Earnest McCord Adams, the 19 year old son of a local resident, was instantly killed Monday afternoon. Young Adams who has been employed by the railroad as a brakeman for the past 9 months, was a graduate of the Patterson Union High School, a young man of exceptionably high attainments, and very popular among his friends here. He was a native of Iowa. A coroner's jury, convened on Tuesday by Coroner Wood, brought in a verdict of accidental death, and the unfortunate lad was laid to rest from the home of his parents, North Fifth street, on Thursday afternoon. The services were conducted outdoors by the Rev. George B. Greig of Fresno, and were marked by the profusion of flowers and the large attendance of mourning friends. The interment took place in Del Puerto Cemetery.
Eye-Witnesses Story The train on which Adams was serving as brakeman at the time of his death was engaged in switching loaded ore cars into the Chrome plant, and the young man was stationed on the front ore car in charge of the operations. As the train was proceeding slowly upgrade, the engine pushing the cars ahead, Adams was seen to he throwing ore at a hog which was endeavoring to cross the right of way. Russell Cooke, one of the operators at the plant, who was watching the switching, stated that Adams suddenly left the center of the car and jumped on the front platform in front of the end gates. He knelt here a moment, with the apparent intention of further frightening the animal, maintaining his balance by holding on to one of the gate boards. The board, however, carried away and the unfortunate youth fell directly in the center of the track in the path of the train. The brake beams crushed him to the earth, and the rear trucks of the car mounted the body, which however, escaped mutilations by the fore wheels.
Engineer Makes Quick Stop Lorne M. Phillips, the engineer, saw Adams run forward and then disappear, throwing his arm in the air as he fell. Knowing that something must be wrong. Mr. Phillips immediately threw on the emergency air brakes and halted the train in less than a car s length. The train crew consisting of Conductor J. J. McNally, who had been in charge of the cars attached to the rear of the engine, Phillips and Fireman J. F. Lilley rescued the body, but life was extinct. Deputy Coroner J. H. Evans was immediately notified, and the body brought to Patterson. The coroner s jury consisted of C. J. Carlson. C. M. Smith, C. W. Kirk, E. L. Fink, W. D. Watson, F. N. Sawden, G. L. Finster, J. F. Berlin and E. D. Redman. The funeral arrangements were made by Davis & Evans.
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Amundson, Lars 18-12-14 p1
Retired Rancher Passes Away Here Funeral Held Tuesday Lars Amundson, an elderly retired rancher who has been living here with his sister, Mrs. L. W. Johnson and her husband in the Patterson Colony for 18 months, passed away on Friday of last week following an illness of long duration. Mr. Amundson, who was 69 years of age, was attended on his death bed by his daughter, Miss Elisabeth Amundson who arrived here several weeks ago from New York. The funeral, which took place at Tuesday noon. was conducted by Davis & Evans, the interment taking place at Del Puerto cemetery. The services were held at the grave, Rev. H. J. Thorpe officiating
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Anderson, Anna L F 18-03-23 p2
Death on Monday of Little Anna Anderson Anna L. F. Anderson, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Swan Anderson of Walnut avenue, passed away Monday, the cause of death being peritonitis. The child was 4 years and 28 days old. Funeral arrangements were made by Davis & Evans, and services were held at the Swedish Mission Church at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon with Rev. O. P. Anderson officiating. Interment was in Del Puerto cemetery.
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Bartch, Kitie N 18-03-02 p1
Death Sunday of Mrs. Fred Bartch; Katie Nickert Bartch, the beloved wife and true helpmate of Fred Bartch. the well known retired grain farmer of the West Side, passed away about 10 o clock last Sunday night, Feb. 24th, at her home just north of Patterson. She had been in poor health for some time, and on Tuesday of last week suffered a stroke of paralysis. She seemed to recover, but Sunday had another stroke and death ensued shortly afterward. A blood clot in the heart was the immediate cause of death. The deceased was born in Germany on May 8, 1853, and was therefore nearly 66 years of age. Coming to America she lived awhile in New York and then proceeded to California where in 1879, she was married to Mr. Bartch at Stockton and took up her residence near Grayson. Since that date she lived almost continuously on the West Side, and during these years she and her husband amassed a fortune in grain farming. A few years ago she and Mr. Bartch made a trip to Germany and toured Europe after which they settled down to pass their remaining years in the splendid home which Mr. Bartch had erected in the north end of the Patterson colony. Mrs. Bartch was a woman of sterling character and many fine qualities, and she will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Besides her husband, she leaves two sisters and four brothers to mourn her loss. Two of the brothers and one sister reside in Michigan and one brother resides in New York. The fourth brother, Chris. Nickert, lives at Vernalis. The other sister, Miss Eva Nickert, made her home with Mrs. Bartch for some years. William and Albert Nickert, nephews, and Miss Rose Nickert, a niece, also made their home with her. Funeral arrangements were made by Davis & Evans of Patterson and interment was in the Del Puerto Cemetery. Services were held at the Bartch home at 2 o clock Wednesday at noon, conducted by the Christian Scientist reader, Mr. Paul Stinchfield of Stockton. The funeral was very largely attended, there being about 40 automobiles in line. The pall bearers were J. M. Hammond, George Delphi, E. C. Brown, Manuel Rogers, Hans Jon,. and W. W. Cox, and the honorary pall bearers were W. W. Giddings, J. H. Yancy, W. H. Klein, H. H. Mills, Wilbur Zachariais, and Dr. H. V. Armistead. Music was furnished by a special choir.
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Bettincourt, B M 18-11-02 p1
Bettincourt B. M.; Five Residents Claimed by Death All Resided in Colony; Within forty-eight hours death has claimed five residents of Patterson as the result of the influenza epidemic now prevalent here. Of the victims Charles F. Pinnig, a fire man employed at the Van Ormer pumping station of the Associated Oil Company was the first to succumb, passing away at 11:25 Tuesday morning, his death was closely followed at 11:45 by that of Mrs. Albert Geisler, the wife of a Colony rancher, who died at her home in the Colony. The next death was that of B. M. Bettincourt, a dairy rancher, who abandoned the fight at the Emergency hospital on Wednesday night, but a few hours previous to the death of Mrs. Manuel Silvera and her still born child. Pinning was a young man 28 years ago born in Kansas and a resident of California for 13 years. He has been employed by the Van Ormer station for the past five years and is survived hy his wife, Mrs. Margaret Pinning, three daughters, Ethel, Florence and Elizabeth Pinning, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Pinning, and a brother and a sister, Mrs. R. H. Lewis. His body was taken to Fresno yesterday for interment. Mrs. Albert Geisler was a native of Switzerland, a young woman of 27 years of age, who sacrificed her life in aiding the members of her family. In company with her husband and her brother-in-law, W. Imholz, she was stricken on Monday but insisted on caring for the others of her family when ordered by the Doctor to remain in bed. Arrangements have been made to conduct the funeral from Newman. She is survived by her husband and two children. On Wednesday night Mrs. Manuel Silvera, Jr., the wife of a Portuguese dairyman, who was especially badly stricken by the disease, gave birth to a still born child and passed away shortly afterward at the hospital. Her death was closely followed by that of B. M. Bettincourt, a dairy man who leaves a wife and ten children, all stricken with the epidemic. Several other inmates of the emergency hospital are reported low at press time, but both Dr. A. M. Field and his volunteer assistants are lending every effort to pull them through.
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Bravo, Arthur F 18-07-20 p1
Accidental Drowning Is Coroner's Verdict; Bravo Buried at San Jose; "Death by Accidental Drowning" was the verdict of the Coroner's Jury which convened last Saturday to investigate the death of Arthur Francis Bravo, a ranch hand employed on the Jons Ranch, who came to his death on Friday evening of last week white swimming in No. 3 Irrigation Reservoir. According to the evidence given, at the inquest by Otto Jons and Lorne E. Ingbiom, who bad accompanied the unfortunate youth to the reservoir Bravo had frequently complained of his heart, which he stated had caused his rejection from the army. About 9:30 p.m., Bravo, who was an indifferent swimmer, announced his intention of swimming across the reservoir, but once started suddenly, disappeared, never returning to the surface. First thinking Bravo was fooling, no particular attention was paid him, but after some tine elapsed the boys became alarmed, and notified Engineer Brye of the Water Co. The water was turned off and the tank drained, Bravo being found lying face downward on the bottom. Dr. A. M. Field, who was in attendance, attempted to resuscitate the young man, but it was too late. Hear failure brought on by excessive exercise was undoubtedly a contributory cause to the drowning. From a registration card in his possession Bravo was evidently a native son about 24 years of age, and has a mother and sister residing in San Jose. He came here from San Ardo, Monterey, but his body was shipped by Davis& Evans to San Jose, where the interment took place.
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Bush, Mr Mrs 18-12-14 p1
Loses Both Mother and Step-Father; Sad Bereavement; The sad intelligence of the death of both mother and stepfather from influenza within forty-eight hours was received here last Tuesday by Mrs. Fred Webber from Rochester, Nevada, where her parents resided. A younger sister, Miss Anna Bush, as well is seriously afflicted with the epidemic, but is now judged to be out of danger. For some days Mr. Bush had been ill, as the, disease was very prevalent in Nevada, and throughout this period was nursed by his wife unfortunately unavailingly, as he passed away on last Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Bush was taken immediately ill following the death of her husband, and although Mr. Webber rushed a noted physician from San Francisco to Rochester, the disease overcame her and she was claimed by death Monday, but a few hours before the physician reached her home. Mrs. Webber is prostrated with grief.
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Chevoy, Clarence 18-11-23 p1
Fresno Boy Known Locally is Killed Brother of Mrs. W. L. Watson; Mrs. W. L. Watson received Thursday the sad intelligence of the death of her brother, Private Clarence Chevoy, of Fresno, who was killed in action on October 11th, while serving with the 347th Machine Gun Battalion in France. Young Chevoy, who was 24 years of age, was well known locally, haying visited his sister and brother-in-law here just previous to is departure to Camp Lewis for training last April. He has only been overseas several months, and although his battalion has been serving in the thickest fighting, his parents and sister were confident of his return safely. Before. drafted, Chevoy was employed at the Wells Fargo Express Office in Fresno. He leaves a sister, Mrs: R. La Salle, of 1416 Olive street, Fresno, and his parents at Lemoore. Mrs. Watson was prostrated by the news, but left in the afternoon by motor for Fresno accompanied by her husband.
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Chilgren, Ed R Mr Mrs 18-09-14 p1
Mr. & Mrs. Edward F Chilgren; Crows Landing Family All But Exterminated by S. P. Train; Edward F. Chilgren, a Crows Landing rancher, and wife were instantly killed, and their three year old daughter badly injured, at 9 o clock Thursday morning, when a Southern Pacific northbound train struck the car they were riding in, at Crows Landing crossing.. John P. Barto, a witness, stated the wrecked automobile apparently got stuck on the railroad track in an endeavor to cross before the train. The automobile was entirely demolished and both bodies badly mangled. The child was hurled some distance, but is not injured fatally. Mrs. Chilgren was a Miss Weddle and is survived by two sisters, Mrs. C. H. Henshaw and a Mrs. Benjamin Babcock of. Newman.
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Edwards, Alice 18-05-25 p1
Mrs. Robert Edwards Claimed by Death; Following a severe illness which had lasted for almost a year, Mrs. Alice Edwards, wife of Robert Edwards, one of. Patterson s leading rnerchants, passed away at the home of relatives in San Jose on Tuesday evening. As this sad conclusion of the months of sickness had not been unexpected, Mr. Edwards had been summoned to her bedside on the preceding Saturday and was with his wife when she passed away. Mrs. Edwards is well known locally, having resided here for a number of years and is survived by a daughter, Miss. Eunice Edwards, and one son, Rodney Edwards. Four sisters Mrs. William Clelland, Mrs. E. R. Bailey, Mrs. E. B. Scott and Mrs. P. Arnich, and one brother, Edward Lamontaigue, are residents of San Jose, where the deceased was born. The funeral took place on Thursday from the Catholic Church in The Garden City, Patterson merchants expressing their sympathy by forwarding a beautiful floral offering.
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Fagerlund, Mrs 18-11-02 p3
Influenza Strikes Daughter of Hotel Man; Fatally stricken by influenza after but a few months of married life, Mrs. Fagerlund, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jones, one of the lessees of the Del Puerto Hotel, passed away in San Francisco last week. The bereaved parents have the sympathy of the community in their loss.
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Fritswold, Nels O 18-06-08 p1
Colony Rancher Laid to Rest; In the presence of a large number of relatives and friends who had gathered to pay their last respects to the deceased, the funeral of Nels O. Friswold, a colony rancher, who passed away after a short illness on May 30, was conducted according to the rites of the Lutheran Church at 11 a. m. last Saturday morning. The interment took place at Del Puerto Cemetery. Friswold, who was well known in Patterson as a painter and decorator, besides being a rancher, was taken ill on May 25 with measles, which later developed into cerebral meningitis through exposure. His condition was not deemed serious until the day previous to his death, when new symptoms developing, resulted in a hasty call for Dr. A. M. Field. Medical aid, however, had been summoned too late, and the patient passed away shortly before noon on the following morning. The deceased, who was 35 years of age and a native of Minnesota, had been a resident here for six years and six months, and is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Knut Friswold, local residents, Alfred, Carl, Martin and Andrew Friswold, brothers, and Miss Annie Friswold and Mrs. Marie Greening, sisters. Andrew Friswold is now serving with the Aviation Corps in France. Beautiful floral offerings were sent to Davis & Evans undertaking parlors by J. D. Patterson, Lutheran Ladies Aid Society, Lutheran Young People s Society, Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Noeding, Mr. and Mrs. Walford Knutson, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Powell, Fig avenue, and Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart.
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Geisler, Albert 18-11-02 p1
Geisler Albert; Five Residents Claimed by Death All Resided in Colony; Within forty-eight hours death has claimed five residents of Patterson as the result of the influenza epidemic now prevalent here. Of the victims Charles F. Pinnig, a fire man employed at the Van Ormer pumping station of the Associated Oil Company was the first to succumb, passing away at 11:25 Tuesday morning, his death was closely followed at 11:45 by that of Mrs. Albert Geisler, the wife of a Colony rancher, who died at her home in the Colony. The next death was that of B. M. Bettincourt, a dairy rancher, who abandoned the fight at the Emergency hospital on Wednesday night, but a few hours previous to the death of Mrs. Manuel Silvera and her still born child. Pinning was a young man 28 years ago born in Kansas and a resident of California for 13 years. He has been employed by the Van Ormer station for the past five years and is survived hy his wife, Mrs. Margaret Pinning, three daughters, Ethel, Florence and Elizabeth Pinning, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Pinning, and a brother and a sister, Mrs. R. H. Lewis. His body was taken to Fresno yesterday for interment. Mrs. Albert Geisler was a native of Switzerland, a young woman of 27 years of age, who sacrificed her life in aiding the members of her family. In company with her husband and her brother-in-law, W. Imholz, she was stricken on Monday but insisted on caring for the others of her family when ordered by the Doctor to remain in bed. Arrangements have been made to conduct the funeral from Newman. She is survived by her husband and two children. On Wednesday night Mrs. Manuel Silvera, Jr., the wife of a Portuguese dairyman, who was especially badly stricken by the disease, gave birth to a still born child and passed away shortly afterward at the hospital. Her death was closely followed by that of B. M. Bettincourt, a dairy man who leaves a wife and ten children, all stricken with the epidemic. Several other inmates of the emergency hospital are reported low at press time, but both Dr. A. M. Field and his volunteer assistants are lending every effort to pull them through.
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Genaca, HG 18-11-02 p3
Former Official Dies at Magnesite Mines; H. G. Genaca, at one time general manager of the Mineral Products Company, passed away at the company's mines in the Red mountain Mining District last week. He was stricken with influenza, after which complications developed.
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Hammarstrand, Karl J Rev 18-12-07 p1
Pioneer Resident Called to Rest; Following a lingering illness which has confined him to his bed for many months, Rev. Karl John Harmmarstrand, a pioneer resident of Patterson Colony, passed away at his home on Pomelo avenue last Friday. The deceased was a native of Sweden, aged 57 years, and is survived by his wife and three sons, Karl William, Jehu and Benjamin, the oldest of whom is but 16 years. The funeral, which was very largely attended, was held at Del Puerto Cemetery, Rev. 0. P. Anderson conducting the last rites. Davis & Evans arranged the interment.
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Hays, Elija B 18-11-09 p1
Local Boy Sacrifices Life on Battlefield: Elijah B Hays; Flags at Half Mast Honor First of Patterson s Hero Dead Patterson has paid its first tribute in blood on the battlefields of France that America might live. A lad who but a few months ago donned the khaki and proudly shouldered his rifle in the great cause of liberty has paid the supreme sacrifice without murmur. The few terse words of the causality list, the brief announcement of an official telegram have conveyed the news that Elijah B ‘Lige' Hays laid down his life in action October 1. A son of Mr. and Mrs. B. W. Hays, pioneers of Patterson, who now reside in Olympia, Lige Hays was one of the most popular young men in this district, a kind word for everyone and everyone a good word for him. Half masted flags testify to the depth of feeling of his fellow townsmen. Brothers in Service Registering in the first draft, Lige was not called to the colors until eight months ago, when he was sent to the 364th Infantry at Camp Lewis, a regiment in which his two brothers, John and Raymond, were already serving. After a short training, he was ordered overseas, and in his letters to friends and relatives here told of his eagerness for the day when he should take his place in the firing line. On September 27 but three days before his death, he wrote a long letter to Miss Verna Smith, a cousin, telling her of the life in France, and generally expressing the optimism and cheerfulness which is so characteristic of the "American soldier's letters home. At this time he wrote of seeing his brothers, who were assigned to A Company while he was serving in Company M, every few days. This letter is thought to be his last before the end. Doubtless his brothers also fought in the same engagement, as several brigades, in which the 363rd Infantry as well was incorporated, are known to have been in action on this date. Relatives Here The news of his death became known first locally through a telegram from the bereaved parents to Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Smith, uncle and aunt of the deceased, who is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Mary Kreps and Miss Orpha Hays, and a brother, Peter. Mr. B. W. Hays moved to Patterson with his family six years ago and engaged in the real estate business, selling to O. M. Kirk and removing to Olympia, Washington, in order to be nearer his sons while they were in training. Lige Hays was employed here by W. Hurd, in well boring and in cement work.
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Kerr, W H 18-03-02 p1
J. M. Kerr's Brother Passed Away Monday; Judge J. M. Kerr received the sad news this week of the death of his brother, Judge W. H. Kerr of Coalinga, who passed away on Monday at the Loma Linda Sanitarium the southern part of the state, where he was taken for an operation some weeks ago. Judge and Mrs. Kerr 1eft Wednesday to attend the funeral at Fresno on Thursday, after which they proceeded to Madera where the body was laid away in the family lot where the parents of the deceased are buried. Judge W. H. Kerr was a prominent and very highly respected citizen of Coalinga for many years, and was widely known throughout the Valley. He served a number of terms as Justice of the Peace, and was postmaster of Coalinga at the time of his death. He was 61 years of age and leaves a wife and two children. His other brother, T. F. Kerr, resides at Gustine, and a sister, Mrs. S. C. West lives at Fresno.
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Kerr, Effie M 18-11-16 p3
Death Summons Grand Niece of Judge Kerr; Following a severe attack of influenza, pneumonia was responsible for the death at Newman on Tuesday of last week of little Effie May Kerr, the 10 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Kerr of that city and a grandniece of Judge and Mrs. J. M. Kerr of Patterson. The little girl was expected to have passed the worst point in her illness and on the road to recovery when pneumonia set in and carried her off within a few hours. The funeral was held on Thursday, interment taking place in Newman.
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Kinnear, James S Lt 18-11-09 p1
Aviation Officer Has Patterson Relatives; Lieut. James Stewart Kinnear, the Newman flyer who fell to his death while training with the aviation corps some days ago, was a nephew of Mrs. 0. J. Smith of Patterson. Young Kinear was to have been married in December. His intended had written to him to be careful in all his flights after his convalescence. He is thought to have lost control while flying, due perhaps to nausea. His best friend and companion at the field was flying near him at the time and saw him go down. Young Kinear was 21 years old February 10 of this year. On February 23 he entered the aviation ground school at the University of California, completing the course there. He proceeded to Riverside and there learned to fly and received his commission as lieutenant. He was looking forward to his transfer to Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas where he would later have embarked for France for regular service.
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Kinnear, James S Lt 18-11-16 P3
Defective Plane Was Cause of Accident; That the death of Lieut. James Stewart Kinnear, the Newman aviator who was killed on the Southern aviation field several weeks ago, was caused by a defect in his airplane, and not by nausea as was first published, is indicated in a letter just received by the father of the unfortunate young man, J. L. Kinnear, from the officer commanding the field. In describing the accident this officer writes: "Your son was flying as leader in a formation of five scout machines and had given the signal to the other machines to break the formation and descend, after having been in the air one hour. Lieutenant Kinnear, as is the custom with most pilots after coming out of these formations engaged in a few simple maneuvers. Lieutenant Kinnear was thoroughly familiar with the maneuvers in which he engaged, as he was an exceptionally good flyer, far, above the average, and has always been given credit for being careful and using good judgment. Just after entering into a maneuver one of the wings; was seen ,to collapse, folding at a right angle with the opposite wing, resulting in the unbalancing of the ship and consequently its fall."
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