Washington County Tidbits 1940-49

Tidbits are newspaper articles, etc. which mention names, places, and other information possibly useful to the researcher.


E-mail your Washington County, MO Tidbit to Larry Flesher,


Submitted by Sharon Hartzell Smith

Independent Journal, March 14, 1940

Jimmie Hartzell's Condition Critical
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hartzell were called to St. Louis Tuesday to see their son, Jimmie in St. Mary's Hospital. On Monday, Jimmie was reported to be improving from the appendix operation but on Tuesday his condition became worse and early Wednesday morning Mr. Hartzell telephoned his daughter that Jimmie had only a slight chance of recovery. No other information is available at the time we go to press.

Wheels Stolen from Hartzell Car in St. Louis
Henry Hartzell had two rear wheels and tires stolen from his car one night last week when it was parked at the rear of St. Mary's Hospital in St. Louis. He and Judge A. H. Long had just parked their cars and gone to the room of Jimmie Hartzell in the hospital Thirty minutes later the tires and wheels were taken by thieves. No clues as to who they were had been found.

Woman Gets Arm Caught In Wringer
Mrs. Howard Smith, Mrs. Paul McKee and Mrs. Oscar Smith went to Granite City, Illinois to see Mrs. Clyde Farrell who is in a hospital there with an injured arm. Mrs. Farrell caught her arm in a wringer and it is in a bad condition. She is a sister of Mrs. Howard Smith.

Sikeston Herald, Sikeston, Missouri, October 24, 1940

Funeral services were conducted at the Welsh Funeral Home at 2 o¢clock Tuesday afternoon for Mrs. Louise E. Potashnick, who died at the Manchester Nursing Home at Manchester in St. Louis county last Sunday afternoon.

Rev. Joseph P. Read, pastor of the Christian church, conducted the services. Interment was made in Memorial Park Cemetery with Welsh service. Mrs. Potashnick, the former Miss Louise E. Richardson, was born Mineral Point, Missouri, on February 28, 1889. She was twice married, her second marriage having been to Sam Potashnick at St. Charles, Missouri, in 1912. Beside her husband Mrs. Potashnick is survived by a son, Harry McGee of Hayti, and three stepsons, R. B. Potashnick of Cape Girardeau, Ralph and Eugene Potashnick of Sikeston, and two sisters, Mrs. Fred Evens of Mineral Point, and Miss Stella Richardson of Sikeston. A brother, Frank Richardson, of St. Louis, also survives.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

The Maryville Daily Forum, Maryville, Missouri, August 15, 1941

St. Louis –
All available state highway patrolmen joined in a search today for the gunman who robbed the bank of Richwoods, Washington County, of between $700 and $800 shortly after noon Thursday. Officers said that except for information they received as to his route directly from the bank after the robbery they had received no further clues, either on his identity or route of escape.

James Godat, cashier, had just returned from lunch when the man, middle aged, stockily built and wearing sun glasses, followed him into the bank and forced him to open the vault. He bound Godat's hands and feet and taped his mouth before fleeing in a black sedan in the direction of DeSoto.

Independent Journal, Potosi, MO, dated February 5, 1942


A telegram from Rear Admiral Jacobs, Chief of Navigation, Washington, D.C., received by the W. L. Livingston family early Sunday morning informed them that Samuel D. Livingston, Fireman 2nd class, had been lost at sea, Jan. 28. No other details were given, but the message stated a communication from the Commander of his ship would be received at a later date.

"Sammie" as he was known by his friends, enlisted in the Navy last August and was graduated from the U.S. Navy School at Great Lakes, Ill., on October 1. He was assigned to sea duty and left Oct. 2 for Boston, Mass. to board the U.S.S. Tucalusa (President's cruiser) for the west coast.

A letter was received from him a few days prior to the telegram.

Mrs. Livingston has been in Columbia with her daughter, Mrs. Dwight Key, since the death of her husband a week ago.

Mrs. Paul Sinsabaugh and children left Saturday for Naylor after attending the funeral of her father, W. L. Livingston in Potosi on Jan. 25.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

Joplin Globe, January 25, 1944

Webb City, MO, Jan. 24
Emma Parkin, 72 years old, a resident of Webb City six years, died at 1:45 o'clock this afternoon at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Melvin Haizlip, 305 North Ball Street.

Survivors are Mrs. Haizlip and four other daughters, Mrs. Eli Henry of Denver, Mrs. Guy Wood of Fowler, Colorado, Mrs. Wallace D. Pritchett of Manitou Springs, Colorado and Mrs. Arthur Bims of Baxter Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Laura McNabb of St. Louis and Mrs. Harry Abbey of Galena, and two brothers John White of St. Louis and I. H. White of Palmer, Missouri; 18 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Baptist church at Lost Creek, Missouri. Burial will be in Lost Creek Cemetery under the direction of the Hedge-Nelson funeral home.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

The Sikeston Herald, Sikeston, Missouri, March 30, 1944

(Compiled by the State Historical Society at Columbia, Floyd C. Shoemaker, Secretary) NOTE: not full article

Taverns were usually the source of liquor "by the drink". The old Tavern at Potosi had a charge of twenty-five cents for a meal, or "dinner and whiskey" thirty-seven and one-half cents. An account book kept in 1824 shows that most of the charges included a serving of liquor.

Joplin Globe, Joplin, Missouri, May 27, 1945

Webb City, MO, May 26
An investigation into the death of Martin Barron, 50 years old, a veteran of World War I, who was found dead in his room, 215 West First Street, at 7 o'clock last night, was conducted this morning at the Hedge-Lewis funeral home by Coroner D. W. Derfelt of Joplin, who attributed Barron's death to heart block. He is survived by his widow, living in St. Louis; a son, Marven M. Barron, with the armed forces; a sister Mrs. H. W. Ahrens of St. Louis, and a brother, Walter Barron of Potosi, Missouri.

Mrs. Ahrens of St. Louis will arrive Sunday to arrange funeral services. The body will be removed by Hedge-Lewis to Potosi Monday morning for funeral and burial there.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

The Sikeston Herald, Sikeston, Missouri, November 1, 1945

Miss Opal Senciboy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Senciboy, of Oran and Roy Pratt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Pratt, of Blackwell, Missouri, were united in marriage at the Catholic Church at Old Mines, Missouri, October 22, it was announced this week. Rev. Vincent L. Noles performed the ceremony. The couple was attended by Chester Pratt and his sister, Miss Dora, brother and sister of the groom. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have established their home at Blackwell, where the former is engaged in farming.

Syracuse Herald Journal, Syracuse, New York, January 24, 1946
St. Louis

Gentry Politte, who runs a funeral home, found himself in the role of stork helper and deliverer. While heading for a St. Louis hospital in his ambulance, Mrs. Russell Jokerst of Ste. Genevieve gave birth to a baby boy. Politte completed the delivery, wrapped the infant in blankets and drove to the hospital.

The Independent Record, Helena, Montana, August 4, 1946

Livingston, Aug 3
Mrs. Justine Charboneau Bequette, a Livingston resident for 40 years, died recently. Mrs. Bequette was born in Richwoods, Missouri. She married Theodore E. Bequette there in 1878. They came to Montana in 1900 and to Livingston in 1906.

Mr. Bequette died here in 1933. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Adel Flaherty of Seattle; Mrs. J. W. Bridge and Mrs. W. C. McLeod, both of Livingston, and Mrs. James O'Rourke of Billings; five sons, F. F. and Sanford Bequette, both of Livingston, Louis of Billings, Joseph of Bremerton, Wash., and Thomas Bequette of Laurel; 26 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

The Maryville Daily Forum, Maryville Missouri, January 13, 1947

In Washington County, Samuel Richeson, a Democrat, resigned as probate judge and ex officio judge of magistrate court to return to private law practice. In his stead the Governor appointed John A. Eversole, Potosi Democrat.

Magistrates may not practice law under the new system, which was set up to conform with the 1945 constitution.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

The Progress, Clearfield Pennsylvania, March 13, 1947

Potosi, MO
When pupils enroll for class under B. F. McKinney at the Borgawich School in Washington County they can't count on any holidays due to teacher's illness.

He's taught 56 years without being absent from school.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

The Sikeston Herald, Sikeston, Missouri, March 25, 1948


At Irondale in Washington County and near the St. Francois County Lead Belt, Elbert Province and Pete Hicks lost their lives, and 15 persons or more other persons were injured. In and near Bonne Terre in St. Francois County 16 persons were reported injured. Marvin Lester Pettis of that town and Mrs. Effie Van Sickles of Farmington were taken to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, suffering from serious injuries. Much property damage was sustained throughout the district surrounding Bonne Terre, reaching as far as Farmington, Irondale and other communities and disrupting telephone service in all communities and as far south as Fredericktown. By Saturday afternoon most of the telephone service had been restored. Property damage at Bonne Terre may reach half a million dollars.

The Daily Register, Harrisburg, Illinois, February 24, 1949

St. Louis
A young divorcee shot and seriously wounded a 27 year old rejected suitor early today when he forced his way into her apartment. Mrs. Ruth Norton, 28, said the man broke the lock on her door as she was preparing to return to her home in Potosi, Missouri, to get away from him.

The man, Elijah Matthews, a welder, was captured by police after the shooting when he telephoned Mrs. Norton to tell her he was wounded. City hospital physicians said a single small caliber bullet had struck him in the groin.

A sister of Mrs. Norton, Judy Owens, 25, and a friend, Oscar Klaus, both of Potosi, were in the apartment at the time. Klaus told police that Matthews grabbed him by the throat when he tried to hold the door closed. The locks on both the front and rear doors had been forced, police reported. "I knew Matthews for about two years." Mrs. Norton said, "I have been deathly scared of him since last October when he broke into my apartment and severely beat me and my sister. I decided to leave to St. Louis when he came back about a week ago and struck me in the face."

The wounded Matthews said he was "very much in love" with the young woman. He was booked for peace disturbance and destruction of property.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

Joplin Globe, Joplin, Missouri, September 24, 1949

Potosi, MO – Sept. 23
Jack Oral Irwin, 28 year old miner, was buried alive late today when the walls of an abandoned mine collapsed as he was digging tiff about 30 feet underground. Rescuers working under the direction of the Missouri state highway patrol, at one time came within two feet of Irwin, but the walls collapsed a second time, delaying their efforts. Patrolmen expressed doubt late tonight that Irwin would be found alive. Rescuers, many of them miners, had to shore up the sides of the shaft with timbers following the second cave in. The mine is located two miles east of here.

The Sikeston Herald, Sikeston, Missouri, September 29, 1949

Potosi –
Jack Oral Irwin, 28 year old miner of this place, was killed last Friday when the walls of an abandoned lead mine two miles east of here caved in on him while he was digging in the mine.

Sedalia Democrat, Sedalia, Missouri, October 23, 1949

Potosi, MO – Oct 22
Bernard Coleman, 25 year old garage mechanic, was held in jail here following his admission to Washington county officers that he knocked his wife out and left her body on a highway last Saturday night. The woman, Mrs. Della Coleman, 24, died at Ironton hospital early Friday. Sheriff Thomas B. Allen of Potosi said a murder warrant against Coleman would be obtained tomorrow. Sheriff Allen said Coleman was under suspicion from the time his wife's body was found on state highway 21, about 10 miles north of Potosi. He was not arrested until today, the sheriff said, because there was some chance Mrs. Coleman might regain consciousness and tell what happened.

Mrs. Coleman died of a fractured skull, suffered, Sheriff Allen said, when Coleman struck her with his fists and threw her out of his car. The slugging followed a quarrel, the sheriff said. Coleman first told officers he had left his wife in a tavern about a mile away from where the body was found. The Colemans had been separated for about 10 days prior to Saturday night and she had been living with her mother near Old Mines, Missouri. A four year old son of the couple has been staying with Mrs. Coleman's mother.

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Larry Flesher, Washington County, MO

Larry Flesher