Death Records for King County Washington

Ralph Goodard, the seven year old son of Mrs. Thomas Bruist, died on Monday, September 30, 1907, at the home of his mother in Seattle. The body was brought here on Wednesday and the funeral services were held at the Baptist Church on Thursday, Rev. H.S. Black having charge. Interment took place in the Washington Lawn cemetery.

October 3, 1907, Centralia Chronicle, Centralia, Washington

©Shauna Williams

JUDGE HUNTER IS DEAD

Pioneer Who Presided on the Superior Bench of Lewis and Pacific Counties

     Judge Edward F. Hunter, 81 years old, at one time presiding judge of the superior court of Lewis and Pacific counties, died at the Wayside Emergency hospital, at Seattle, Friday afternoon, three minutes after he was taken there from the Kenneth hotel, where he had been stricken with an attack of heart trouble. Judge Hunter had resided in Seattle for the past five years, residing part of the time at the Seattle hotel and the remainder of the time at the Kenneth. He had been a resident of the state for twenty-one years, coming here from Lancaster, Ohio, in 1886. Until five years ago he lived at Chehalis, where he practiced law and was prominent in republican politics.
     Judge Hunter's early home was at Lancaster, Ohio, where his father, Harry Hawkins Hunter, was prominent in republican politics and was very wealthy. In 1849 Judge Hunter joined the rush of gold hunters to California and made a fortune in the early days of that state. In the sixties he returned to Ohio and took a position in his father's law office, who was at that time prosecuting the famous coke(?) cases against the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. These suits dragged through the courts for eighteen years. At the death of his father, Judge Hunter took charge of the prosecution, and the bringing of the suit to a successful close won for him considerable fame. At that time Judge Hunter was very wealthy, but last much of his fortune disappeared, and he came to Washington, opening a law office in Chehalis in 1886.
     From his first residence in the state he took an active part in politics, and for years was a power in the republican ranks. In the nineties he was elected presiding judge of the superior courts of Lewis and Pacific counties. He was afterward elected for another term. He practiced law for a few years after leaving the bench but retired six years ago because of his advanced years and five years ago he moved to Seattle.
     He had been remarkably active for a man of his years and was on the street Thursday Friday morning he was unable to rise from his bed and a physician was summoned. He soon lost consciousness and in the afternoon was taken to the Wayside Emergency hospital, where he died three minutes after he was taken from the ambulance.
     He leaves a son and two daughters. The son is Harry Hunter, a well known Pacific coast mining engineer, with headquarters in Salt Lake City at present, but who was formerly well known in the Alaskan fields. At present he has interests in Nevada mines. The two daughters reside in Austin, Texas. A grandson, Lester A. Hunter, lives at 543 Twenty-third avenue south. Two sisters residing in Lancaster, Ohio, also survive Judge Hunter. -Bee Nugget

November 9, 1907, Centralia Chronicle, Centralia, Washington

©Shauna Williams

JERRY M. SHAW DIES IN SEATTLE
Was Born Near Ogden and Lived in Perry Several Years Before Moving West
     According to word received here today funeral services were held Monday in Seattle, Wash., for Jerry M. Shaw, former Ogden and Perry resident, who died there Sunday at his home at 2342 North 62nd St. Mr. Shaw had been bedridden for the past two years because of a heart ailment. Last Saturday he sustained a broken hip and died the following day. He was 81 years of age and was a retired gardener.
     Funeral services were held at Green Lake Funeral home with the Rev. Walter Wheeler. Assembly of God church pastor and grandson of Mr. Shaw, officiating. Burial was in Acacia Memorial Park.
     Musical selections were furnished by Harold Sorbo, who sang "Rock of Ages" and "In the Garden," accompanied by Viola Oliver, organist.
     Casket bearers, grandsons and grand sons in law of Mr. Shaw, were Claude Hatch, Jr., William Alexander, Jr., Gene Alexander, Charles Buckingham, Robert Alexander, and Ernest Longanecker.
     Mr. Shaw was born near Ogden May 2, 1860 and moved to Perry about 1910. He moved to Seattle in 1923 where he had since lived.
     Surviving are his widow, Harriet; three daughters, Mrs. Pearl Alexander, Bridgeport, Wash., Mrs. Mettie Tolliver, Ogden, Iowa; and Miss Opal Shaw, Seattle; two sisters, Mrs. Maude Horns, Fort Dodge, Iowa and Mrs. Ida Cartwright, Council Bluffs, Iowa; a brother in Missouri, and a cousin C.H. Boblet, Perry.

Chief Advertiser, Perry Iowa November 20, 1941

©Shauna Williams

R.A. Jones, the Chief Justice of Washington Territory, died at Seattle, W.T., recenlty from a complication of lung and kidney troubles, aged fifty eight years. The body was taken to Rochester, Minn., for burial.

Atchison Daily Globe, Atchison Kansas August 20, 1888

©Shauna Williams

A FATAL HOTEL FIRE
By Telegraph to the Gazette
Seattle, W.T., March 20-Fire this morning at 3 o'clock destroyed the Oriental hotel building. The house was filled was guests. Eric Johnson, a Swede, aged 35, was burned to death. Mr. J. Jobin and Edward Downey were injured. Ten others were severely injured by jumping from the building but none fatally.

The Daily Gazette, Fort Wayne Indiana March 21, 1885

©S. Williams

John G. Thompson, U.S. special timber agent, died at Seattle, W.T., yesterday, his disease being of the heart. The immediate cause of his death was exposure to the weather in the discharge of officials. Thompson was one of the most noted politicians of the State of Ohio; he was several times a member of the State Legislature, was Sergeant-at-Arms of the U.s. house of representatives, and was a political lieutenant of Senator Thurman. He was 50 years of age, and leaves a family in Columbus, Ohio, to whom his body will be sent.

Daily Nevada State Journal, Reno Nevada February 12, 1886

©Shauna Williams

A NUMBER OF PERSONS KILLED AND INJURED AT A HOTEL FIRE
    Portland, Ore., March 20-Early yesterday morning the Oriental house at Seattle, W.T., was discovered to be on fire. The flames spread rapidly, enveloping the whole building, three stories high. The hotel was filled with lodgers, who were rescued with a great difficulty, many throwing themselves from upper windows. Following is a list of the casualties:
    Eurich Johnson was burned to death
    Mike Tobin was killed by jumping from a third story window.
    Ed Downey was terribly burned and will die
    Olef Otteson and J.B. Moer were severely burned, but may recover.
    Twelve others were more or less injured. Loss on hotel, $10,000.

Decatur Daily Republican, Decatur Illinois March 20, 1885

©Shauna Williams

Tragic Death of Clinton Hesser

Mr. and Mrs. John Murran have received the news of the tragic death of their son-in-law, Clinton Hesser, which occurred recently at Seattle, W.T. Hesser lived in Decatur six years ago, and was well known about Monticello and Bement. He married Rachel Murran, who is now a widow with three children. The family moved to Seattle two years ago. Hesser was a night watchman by occupation and was asleep at his home when he met his death. Two men were engaged in cutting down a tree near his dwelling. It fell in a contrary direction and struck the corner of Hesser's house. It was a tree three feet in diameter. It crushed the corner of the house and struck Hesser in his bed, smashing his head beyond recognition. Mrs. Hesser was out of the house after a pail of water, but the three children were inside unhurt. Hesser was 27 years of age and a native of Frankfort, Ind.

Decatur Daily Republican, Decatur Illinois January 3, 1889

©S. Williams

John Schaeffer, a Bohemian who was arrested at Seattle, W.T., for attempting to commit a criminal assault on the wife of James Boydola, and afterward blowing up Boydola's house, killing the woman and her daughter, was lynched Monday night.

Decatur Republican, Decatur Illinois January 10, 1889

©S. Williams

The remains of Mrs. Charles H. Kittenger, nee Conrad, arrived at Wilmington, Del., on Monday night for burial from Seattle, W.T., where she died of puerperal fever on June 9. Mrs. Kittenger was married in Wilmington just about a year ago, and was the youngest sister of Henry C. Conrad of that city. Two of her sisters died under similar circumstances. One of the sisters was the wife of John W. Grace, of Baltimore, and the other was the wife of Henry D. Cranor, now of Wilmington, but formerly of Bohemia Manor. Mr. Conrad and his sisters are well known in this county, where until lately he owned valuable real estate.

Denton Journal, Denton Maryland June 25, 1887

Mrs. Charlotte Hooker
     Word has been received here of the death of Mrs. Charlotte Hooker, of Seattle Wash., which occurred on April 26. Mrs. Hooker, wife of Charles Hooker, of Seattle, was a former resident of Warrensville.
     Surviving are her husband, a sister, Mrs. Lavina Low, Warrensville. The late Mrs. Margaret Kimble, of this city, was a sister of Mrs. Hooker.
     Funeral services were held in Seattle with the rector of the Seattle Trinity Episcopal Church officiating.

Gazette Bulletin, Williamsport Pennsylvania May 5, 1937

The body of a woman found drowned at Seattle, W.T., has been identified as that of Mrs. Frank Mauger. Her first husband, Chauncy Van Schaack, is a wealthy merchant of San Francisco. Opium smoking drove her to suicide.

Indiana Progress, Indiana Pennsylvania Feb. 1, 1888

Owing to the failure of a brake of a cable car at Seattle, W.T., ran down hill at great speed and threw out the passengers, killing Mrs. Sophronie Wagner, of Chadwick Neb.

Indiana Progress, Indiana Pennsylvania May 22, 1889

©S. Williams

Thomas Russell
Richard Russell, of 500 Central avenue received a telegram yesterday conveying the sad intelligence of the death of his son Thomas, at Seattle, Washington. The deceased was a popular young man with hosts of friends and acquaintances in this city who will be pained to hear of his death, and who sincerely sympathize with the members of the family in the grief that has come so suddenly upon them.
Mr. Russell was a machinist by trade and left Decatur for Seattle about a year ago. His death was caused by pneumonia, and he leaves a widow and two children. The widow is a sister of Peter J. Dempsey, of this city. In this city his parents, two brothers, Conductor J.R. Russell and Frank Russell, and two sisters, Misses Alice and Nora Russell, survive him.
The remains will probably be brought to this city for interment.

March 19, 1891 Review Decatur Illinois

In Seattle, March 7, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Robert CAMPBELL, Mrs. Mary G. PRESTON, aged 79 years, 9 months and 26 days.

Morning Oregonian, Portland Oregon March 8

Submitted to Genealogy Trails by Robyn Greenlund

(Associate Press by Federal Wireless)
SEATTLE, Washington, Jan 1 - Alice Ball, instructor at the College of Hawaii, died today at the home of her parents here. Her illness began last March when she inhaled chlorine gas while giving a demonstration to her class.

Miss Alice Ball became ill last spring and returned home but came back again this fall. She broke down after a short time. At the college this afternoon it was stated that it is doubted if inhaling the cholrine gas was the direct cause of her death believed that there were other causes contributing to her breakdown. She came to Hawaii from the University of Washington and had been here about two years. On the advice of physicians the college sent her home in the hope she would recover from an illness entirely apart from the effects of the gas.

Honolulu Star Bulletin, January 1, 1917, Page 1, Column 2.

Former College Teacher of Hawaii Dies on Coast
Seattle, January 1-Alice Ball, instructor at the College of Hawaii, died today that the home of her parents here. Her illness began last March when she inhaled chlorine gas while giving a demonstration in her class.

Honolulu Commercial Advertiser, January 2, 1917

Washington State Board of Health
Record. 2586
Certificate of Death
Place of Death: Seattle, King Co.
2401 East Union St.
Alice A. Ball
Female, White, Single
Born July 23, 1892-24y 5m 8d
Occupation-At home
Born at Seattle Washington
Father James P. Ball Born Ohio
Mother Laura L. Howard Born Ohio
Date of Death Dec. 31, 1916
I hereby certify, That I attended deceased from Oct. 31, 1916 to Dec. 31 1916 that I last saw her alive on Dec. 31, 1916 and that death occurred on the date above at 5 a.m.. The cause of death was as follows: Removal of tonsils excessive 2 years ago, inhalation of chlorine gas two years ago
Contributory-Chronic Asthma for 2 yrs.
Signed: Frank Brooks Jan. 1, 1917 Arcade Bldg.
Where was disease contracted if not at place of death: Honolulu
Cremation Jan. 2, 1917

©Jeanne Moore

Ball-At the family residence, 2401 East Union St., November 2, 1924, Estelle Victoria Ball, aged 68 years, sister of the late James P. Ball and aunt of William T.C. Ball.
Funeral services at the parlors of Bonney-Watson Co., today, Tuesday, at 3 p.m. Friends invited. Cremation.

Seattle Post Intelligencer, Seattle Washington November 4, 1924

©Jeanne Moore

Ball-210 23rd Ave N., Sept. 28, Laura Ball. Services at Bonney-Watson Co., Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Seattle Times, Seattle Washington Sept. 30, 1945

©Jeanne Moore

AN ACCIDENT CLAIMS JUDGE
Seattle Judge Killed By Hunting Accident
Bellingham, Wash., July 19
Superior Judge Prigmore, of King County, while on a hunting trip near this city yesterday, was accidentally shot and killed, his shotgun discharging accidentally. The dead man was prominent in judicial affairs in Washington and his death has caused a deep shock to hundred of friends and acquaintances.
The Daily Alaska Dispatch, July 19, 1911

Submitted by Barbara Ziegenmeyer

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