Obituaries

Transcribed from historical newspapers and contributed by Carolyn Feroben

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ

SCADDEN, WILLIAM UREN

Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 191, Number 1, 1 September 1916

HERO OF VIRGINIA CITY FIRE IS DEAD
W. U. Scadden of Nevada City Saved Lives of Seven Miners.

Special to the Union. NEVADA CITY (Nevada Co.). Aug. 31.—The funeral of William Uren Scadden, who died at the age of 71 years 6 months and 13 days, will take place tomorrow (Friday) forenoon at 10:30 o’clock from the family residence and the interment will be private. Mr. Scadden was a native of England and came to the United States in early manhood, locating: at Virginia City, Nev., where he proved himself a hero in going with two other miners into the burning shaft of the Curry mine and rescuing seven men from certain death. He and his comrades were given medals for their bravery. After leaving Virginia City Mr, Scadden settled in Auburn Placer county, where they lived until 1906, when they came to Nevada City. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. William J. Bennetts of Santa Monica, Los Angeles county, and Mrs. Al K. Snell of this city; two sons. .Thomas A. Scadden of San Francisco, and Gordon Scadden of Nevada City.

SHEEHAN

Daily Alta California, 16 June 1875

VIRGINIA CITY, June 16th. - Conductor Sheehan of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, died in Carson City last night of small-pox.

SHIELDS, J. W.

Sacramento Daily Union, 23 May 1912

NEVADA PIONEER IS DEAD - J. W, Shields Figured Prominently in Rush to Gold Fields.

Special to the Union. VIRGINIA CITY (Nev.), May 22. The death of J. W. Shields at this place marks the passing of one of the pioneers of the state and a man who took part in the pioneer life of the Comstock as well as a pioneer of the very earliest Pacific coast settlements. Mr. Shields was 86 years of age and joined the rush across the plains in '49 to the gold fields of California and every year since has almost religiously displayed the Bear flag of the Golden state. He came to the Comstock from California when the marvelous richness of the district started the country and has been a resident of Virginia City ever since. His death also reduces the rapidly vanishing ranks of the Exempt Firemen of Virginia City . Shields was a native of Indiana and no known relatives survive him.

SICKLES, AL

Placer Herald, 11 May 1918

Pioneer Citizen Dead

Al Sickles, a pioneer resident of Gold Hill, died at the County Hospital Saturday, and was buried Sunday at Gold Hill, Rev. A. J. Case officiating. Deceased was a native of New York, aged 77 years.

SMITH, C. B.

Morning Union, 6 September 1894

A Nevada Pioneer Dead.

San Francisco, September 5. — C. B. Smith, formerly treasurer of Storey county, Nevada, at the Old People’s Horne today after a long illness. Deceased was well known in Nevada, having been at one time Deputy State Treasurer. Until a few years ago, when he become paralyzed, he served as book-keeper of the Virginia and Gold Hill water company at Virginia City.

SMITH, WILLIAM A.

Sacramento Daily Union, 5 September 1868

Died In Virginia City, Sept. 2d, WILLIAM A. SMITH aged 20 years.

SOHL, D. K.

Inyo Independent, 31 March 1888

An Unfortunate Family.

Recently a former business man of Virginia City named D. K. Sohl, committed suicide at Salt Lake. Sohl had left Virginia City and gone to Reno and engaged in business there. He was unfortunate and failed and went to Salt Lake and a few days after arriving there killed himself with a pistol. His wife had three brothers living at Virginia, William, Eli and Rufus Ford. Last Sunday the brothers were preparing a house for their sister at Silver City. William and Eli were unloading furniture from a wagon in front of the house and Rufus was inside the building. A pistol shot was heard and when William and Eli went into the house they found Rufus lying on the floor with a bullet through his brain. The unfortunate young man lived a few hours out was insensible till he died. It is not known if the pistol was fired accidently or with suicidal intent. The Enterprise gives the young man an excellent character.

SOLARI, D.

San Jose Mercury-News, 21 April 1888

A Nevada Murder. Virginia, Nev.. April 20. — An Italian wood-dealer named D. Solari, was shot and killed this evening at Clark Hill thirteen miles north of Virginia, by a tramp-sheep herder. The murderer was subsequently captured.

STEWARD, GEORGE R.

Daily Alta California, 19 September 1861

DIED In Virginia City, September 13th, George R. Stewart, aged 24 years.

STONE, EDWARD

Daily Alta California, 22 June 1860

Died- In Virginia City, June 11th, Edward Stone, aged 24 years.

STROUSE, ABRAHAM

Calaveras Chronicle, 31 October 1868

In Virginia City, Nevada, October 24th, 1868, Abraham Strouse, aged 37 years. aged 37 years. [communicated.] He was born at Storndurf, Darmstadt, in 1831, and at 20 years of age emigrated to California, and for many years was a resident and active business man of Mokelumne Hill. In 1863 he closed out his business here, and removed to Virginia City, Nevada, where he resided till his death. His remains were buried here on the 27 th inst., by the Masonic Order and the Fire Department. The worthy mother and sisters of deceased are residents of this town.

STROUSE, MARK

The Jewish News of Northern California, Volume 130, Number 15, 11 April 1898

By Norton B. Stern (Special To The Bulletin)

Mark Strouse was born in Lauderbach, Germany in 1845. He was the youngest of the 10 children of Moses and Bertha Strouse. In 1860 the family came to America and settled at Mokelumne Hill, Calif., in the heart of the gold-mining region. Mark, still a teenager, occupied himself as a miner and as a butcher in Mokelumne Hill. But in 1863 he gathered a large herd of sheep and drove them over the Sierras to Virginia City where things were booming. There he opened a meat market and developed a hog ranch nearby. Later he established a cattle ranch near Honey Lake in California. His brother Abraham joined him in the meat business in Virginia City, which by 1880 was said to have been the largest such firm in Nevada. The brothers owned their own four-story building in Virginia City. In the spring of 1868 Mark Strouse was elected Chief of Police of Virginia City, having been nominated by the Democratic City Committee. On a visit to Mokelumne Hill that year, an editor noted that being a police chief must have agreed with Strouse, as he was “as jolly and handsome as ever.” Mark Strouse’s mother died in 1878, and was interred in the tiny Mokelumne Hill Jewish, where her headstone with its beautifully touching epitaph may be seen by visitors today. Strouse moved to San Francisco when Virginia City mining fortunes ebbed, and he became proprietor of a grocery at 1138 Market, and of meat markets at 1045 Market and at 1416 Church St. He also owned a meat packing plant on San Bruno Ave. near Cortland in the 1890 s. His home was 2412 Pacific Ave., where he died on September 30, 1898.

THEALL, H. W.

Daily Alta California, Volume 21, Number 7009, 28 May 1869

H.W. Theall, a well-known assayer of Virginia City, at White Pine.

THIRWELL, JOHN

Morning Union, 28 February 1896

DEATH OF A PIONEER. John Thirwell Found Dead in His Bed at Truckee.

Truckee Republican: Another pioneer Nevada county man has passed away. Tuesday morning John Thirwell was found dead in his bed in Hurd’s hall. He retired Monday night at his usual hour apparently as well as ever, and evidently died while asleep without suffering in the least, for when Tim Kirby, W. H. Hurd’s night barkeeper, went up to call him at 5:30 Tuesday morning the old gentleman was cold in death. Deceased was a pioneer resident of Nevada county and in early days was a mining man of considerable prominence. He was largely interested in the Live Oak, Nebraska and other big mines that were being operated in and near Nevada City in the early days. He left the county seat of this county in 1876 and went to Virginia City, where he resided with his family until 1881. He then came to Truckee and has lived here off and on ever since. A greater part of this time he has been with W. H. Hurd, doing odd chores about the hall and saloon. Deceased was 73 y-ears of age on Monday of last week. He leaves a wife and three sons. Mrs. Thirwell resides in Virginia City with one of the sons. The second son is living in San Francisco and the other at Butte, Montana. A Coroner’s inquest was held Tuesday afternoon to ascertain, as near as possible, what caused the old gentleman’s sudden death. The verdict of the jury was that he died from old age and general debility.

THOMAS, THOMAS

Gold Hill Daily News, Jan 3, 1882

Died In Storey County in December, 1881; Born in England, died in Virginia the 5th, aged 36: death caused by explosion of blast.

THOMAS, WILLIAM H.

Morning Union, 4 June 1919

Long Illness Ends in Death of Wm. H. Thomas in Nevada

William H. Thomas of Virginia City Nev., who is quite well known in this city, died yesterday following several months’ of illness. Deceased was a resident of Virginia City and was 75 years of age at the time of his death. It is believed that infirmities of old age caused the death. William Thomas is survived by a wife, two daughters, Mrs. T. J. Stewart of this city and Mrs. Ida McClaskey of Hobart Mills, and by two sons. W. J. Thomas of Hobart Mills, and Richard Thomas, constable and deputy sheriff of Virginia City. Mrs. T. J. Stewart of this city has gone to Virginia City to attend the funeral. Last winter, Mrs. Stewart spent several months in Virginia City nursing her aged father, who was then ill.

TODMAN, JOSEPHINE

Mill Valley Record, 7 April 1939

Miss J. Todman Dies After Stroke

Miss Josephine M Todman suffered a stroke Tuesday at her home at 175 Marguerite avenue, and died Wednesday at Ross hospital. Miss Todman was the first woman attorney in California and served as secretary to Governor James Budd. She came to Mill Valley when she retired five years ago. She was born in Virginia City in 1862, coming to California in early girlhood. Inturnment was at Olivet Memorial Park.

TREGLOVE, HENRY

Marysville Daily Appeal, 21 August 1869

Henry Treglove, a native of Cornwall, England, aged about 40 years, died suddenly at Silver City this morning.

Sacramento Daily Union, 21 August 1869

From Virginia, Nevada, Henry Treglone, a native of Cornwall (Eng.), aged about forty, died suddenly at Silver City this morning.

TRITLE, FREDERICK A.

The Rocky Mountain, November 19, 1906

DEATH OF FIFTY-NINER AT PHOENIX. ARIZONA

Frederick A. Tritle Was a Prominent Figure in Affairs of Three Far Western States. PHOENIX, Ariz., Nov. 18. — Frederick A. Tritle, governor of Arizona from 1882 to 1885, died in this city this morning, aged 73. He "suffered from dropsy and complications of that disease. Frederick A. Tritle went West from Pennsylvania, where he was born, to California in 1859, and in the same year to Nevada. He carried on a brokerage business in San Francisco and Virginia City for many years. He was a United States commissioner to receive the Central Pacific railroad when it was completed in 1869, and on behalf of Nevada presented the silver spike which connected the two ends of the road. He was a member of the first Nevada senate and was later narrowly defeated for governor and other positions.

[U - none]

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WALSH, JOHN “JACK”

Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 172, Number 25, 25 July 1913

John “Jack” Walsh, another pioneer miner, died at the county hospital, where he had been in a critical condition for several days. He was born in Ireland in 1846, Most of his life was spent in Virginia City where he came when but a boy. He owned several valuable mining properties on the Comstock.

WELLS, SAMUEL A.

Daily Alta California, 4 September 1864

DIED. In Virginia City, Aug. 30th, Samuel A. Wells, aged 40 years. Boston papers please copy. Funeral will take place this day, (Sunday,) at 2 o'clock P. M., from the Church of the Advent, (Rev. Mr. McAllister's,) Howard street, between Second and Third streets. Friends are respectfully invited.

WELLS, SAMUEL A.

WERRIN, JOHN S.

Sacramento Daily Union, 29 May 1914

DIES IN VIRGNIA CITY -- Special to the Union. VIRGINIA CITY (Nev.) May 28. — John S. Werrin, one of the best known men on the Comstock, died yesterday following an operation. He was 35 years old and was a native of Virginia City, where he had lived nearly all his life. He will be buried tomorrow afternoon in this city under the auspices of the Virginia lodge of Masons, of which he was a member.

WHALEN, THOMAS

San Francisco Call, Volume 77, Number 29, 29 December 1894

(see obituary for FELL, George Edwin)

WHITAKER, OZI W., Right Rev.

The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), February 10, 1911

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9. — Right Rev. Ozi W. Whitaker, bishop of the Protestant Episcopal diocese of Pennsylvania, died at his residence here today at noon today. The bishop had been in feeble health for a long time. He was 79 years old. Bishop Whitaker was born in New Salem, Mass. He served two years at St. John’s church, Gold Hill, Nev., and was rector of St. Paul’s church in Virginia City. In 1868 he was consecrated missionary bishop of Nevada. Bishop Whitaker was made bishop coadjutor of the Pennsylvania diocese in 1886.

WHITCHER, JOHN W.

Sacramento Daily Union, 14 February 1914

FORMER OFFICIAL IS DEAD John W. Whitcher Dies at the Age of 91 Years,

Special to the Union. VIRGINIA CITY (Nev.). Feb. 15. John Wesley Whitcher, 91years of age, and at one time United States district attorney for the district of Nevada. died at the county hospital here of old age. Whitcher was a native of New Hampshire, and came to the Comstock in the early days. He was city attorney of Virginia City in 1869, and later superintendent of schools of Storey county. Whitcher had no living Relatives and will be buried here.

WILLIAMS, JACK

Sacramento Daily Union, 11 December 1862

A Desperado Killed — A Shooting Affair.

Virginia City, December 10th. Jack Williams, a desperado who has killed three or four men here and in California, was shot and instantly killed at half-past eleven last night, while engaged at a game in Pat Lynch's saloon. The murderer fired through a door and escaped. Several are suspected, but there is no evidence against any one. About ten o'clock this morning, a difficulty arose between George Gumpert, a butcher, and Tom. Reeder, concerning last night's murder, when the former stabbed Reeder twice in the back. After his wounds were dressed, he came on the street and swore he would kill Gumpert, whereupon the latter procured a shotgun and fired, the shot entering Reeder's side. He is not expected to live. There is much excitement throughout the city among the shooting class.

WILLIAMS, JOHN R.

Morning Union, 2 April 1895

Died at Virginia City.

Word has been received here of the death of John R. Williams at Virginia City. Deceased formerly resided here and has numerous friends in this city. He visited here about two years ago. He was an uncle of Mrs. W. H. Morgan and Miss Jennie Rowe of this city. Deceased was 45 years of age and a native of England.

WILLIAMS, THOMAS

Red Bluff Independent, 13 October 1863

At Ingraham's Ranch. Stampede Valley, 36 miles this side of Virginia City, on the 1st of October, Thomas Williams. Deceased was a citizen of this county, and had been to Virginia City to dispose of a drove of cattle, and was on his way back to drive them up when he was taken sick and died. He leaves a wife and a large family on Stoney creek.

WILLIAMS, T. P.

Morning Union, 14 December 1917

POSTMASTER DEAD.VIRGINIA CITY (Nev.),

December 13. — Postmaster T. P. Williams of Gold Hill, is dead, after a brief illness. He was a resident of the district for forty years. He had long been a power in Nevada politics.

WILSON, ARCHIE

Morning Union, 14 November 1896

Death on the Comstock — Archie Wilson, an old carpenter and a resident of Virginia for the past 30 years, died suddenly in the kitchen of Charley Brown, the undertaker, at 3 o’clock Thursday after= noon, says the Virginia City Chronicle. He was sitting in a chair at the end of the kitchen table, talking to Mrs. Kate McAulffe, who sat at the other end, when he suddenly began to pitch forward and vomit. Mrs. McAuliffe helped him to lie down on the floor, and he died in less than a minute after; without ever speaking. His appearance after death indicated that he died of apoplexy. He was in apparently good health this morning. Deceased was single and leaves no relatives here. He was an American, about 65 years old.

YOUNG, JOHN S.

San Diego Union and Daily Bee, 26 December 1918

VIRGINIA CITY MAYOR DIES IN SAN FRANCISCO (Associated Press)

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 25. — Cal. John S. Young, mayor in the late 60‘s of Virginia City, Nev., widely known in Arizona and Nevada, where he conducted hotels and engaged in mining, died early today at his home here. He was 82 years old. After leaving Nevada, Young came to San Francisco and for years conducted the Russ House. He was a veteran of the Civil war and had served on the governors’ staff in California from Markham to Pardee, inclusive.