In the family home on Ottawa street on Monday morning about 6:30, Barbara Rühle, wife of Mr. Johann Rühle, after a short illness, was ripped from the circle of her family through Death. Sunday morning, the up until then apparently healthy woman was stricken by a heart attack, and even though medical assistance was called upon, the fatal course of the illness could not be prevented.
The deceased was born in Dörflingen in the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen on 23 September 1852 and and was married there on 12 July 1877 to the now-sorrowing widower Johann Rühle. Nine years later the couple immigrated to this country and resided for many years in Fulton county, before they settled among us. To the widower remain six children: Mrs. Lydia Spurgeon, Ernst, John, Otto, Alfred and Arthur Rühle. The family, so stricken by the loss of a faithful wife and mother, is receiving sincere sympathy from all sides.
The burial took place on Wednesday afternoon in Riverside Cemetery, after funeral services led by Pastor F. A. Kiess in the former home and at St. John's Lutheran Church.
[d. 06 Feb 1906, Defiance,? Defiance,? Ohio]
Harvey Edward Myers
After a long illness on Sunday evening about 5 o'clock, Dr. Harvey Edward Myers died in his home on Park Avenue, at the age of 39 years, 4 months and 14 days. He came with his parents to Defiance in the year 1876, and since then has constantly lived among us. Maturing as a young man, he practiced dentistry, to which he remained faithful until with the last few months a chronic illness banished him to the sickroom. Whatever medical arts and faithful care were able to do, was done [for him], but all in vain; the earthly course of the disease was fixed on an end, which could not be overturned.
The deceased was known and liked in wide circles. He always had a good word for his surroundings, and ostensibly always carried out his duties as husband, father and citizen conscientiously. He was a member of the following organizations: the Freemasons, Knights of Pythias, the National Union, Ben Hur, National Protective Legion and the Elks. Surviving are his wife -- the former Miss Lizzie Kesselmeyer, whom he married on 29 November 1893 -- his little son Gerald, his father, two brothers and two sisters. The remains were taken yesterday morning from former home to the grave in Riverside cemetery, with a large cortege. Pastors Arthur Barber and B. W. Slagle led the funeral services.
[d. 04 Feb 1906, Defiance, Defiance, Ohio]
Blanch Wight
Blanch, eight month old daughter of Thomas and Amanda Wight of Rulf Street, East Defiance, died Friday morning. The burial took place Sunday afternoon under the direction of Pastor F. A. Kiess of St. John's Lutheran Church, in Riverside cemetery.
[d/o Emery Wight,? Emelia Copp; b. 1906, d. 1 Nov 1906, Defiance, Defiance, OH]
Mrs. L. D. Blue
Tuesday evening, at 74 years of age, Mrs. L. D. Blue died in her home in Ayersville. She leaves behind a widower and many grown children, among them Doctor U. S. Blue in Ayersville. The burial took place Saturday afternoon from the former home under the direction of Pastor Thomas, to the Ayersville cemetery.
[d/o parents: Richard Kelly,? Martha Levering; w/o Lewis O. Blue] [birth: 1837, Phil.? Penn.; death: 01 Nov 1906, Highland,? Defiance,? Ohio]
Mrs. Victoria Smith
In Toledo where she spent the last few months of her life, the widow Victoria Smith died last Thursday about noon, at the age of 70 years and eight months. She was born in Baden and came to this country as a maid. Her first husband was I. H. Moll, who came to a violent death here on 25 February 1891. From this marriage there remain four daughters and two sons, among them Conrad Moll, who lives here in Defiance. Her second husband, who has likewise been dead a few years, was named John P. Smith.
Mrs. Smith's remains will be taken Saturday afternoon to the grave in Riverside cemetery, under the direction of the (?Catholic) Pastor I. P. Gloden, from the home of the widow of Heinrich Moll, on Clinton street.
[middle: Mull, maiden: Wahler] [b. 2 Mar 1836 Germany, d. 1 Nov 1906, Toledo, Lucas, OH]
Mrs. Lydia Spurgeon
Saturday afternoon about 4:30, Lydia Spurgeon, wife of James Spurgeon and the only daughter of John Rühle and his deceased wife, died of blood poisoning after severe pain. She was born on 4 February 1880 in Dörflingen in the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen, and in 1886 came to this country with her parents. In the year 1903 she married James Spurgeon, who along with a two year old son, survives. Besides these, she leaves behind a deeply sorrowing father and five brothers. She bore her severe suffering with Christian patience and a complaint never passed her lips. She passed her life at 26 years and nine months, less one day.
The burial took place Tuesday afternoon under the direction of Pastor F. A. Kiess in Riverside cemetery. The funeral service was at 2 o'clock in the former home and 2:30 in St. John's Lutheran Church.
[?d. Oct or Nov 1906, Defiance, OH]
Transcriber's note: From my limited experience, the German "Pastor" normally refers to Protestant clergy. Catholic priests are usually referred to as "Pfarrer" or occasionally "vater" or "Pater".