Old Pioneer of Valley dies at Toppenish. Mrs. Martha McEwen passes away after lingering illness of several months. Mrs. Martha Grewell McEwen, an old pioneer of this vicinity, passed away at Toppenish Sunday morning at 7 o’clock after a lingering illness which confined her to her bed for the past several months [died December 22, 1918]
Mrs. McEwen was born February 22, 1860, in Iowa, and three years later crossed the prairies in an ox team with her parents, settling at Vancouver, Wash. When she was 13 years old she moved to this vicinity where she has since made her home and where she has many friends. She was married in 1877 to Harvey McEwen, by whom she is survived. She has been a staunch member of the Christian Congregational church practically all her life
In addition to her husband she is survived by eight children. Four sons, Ed, Ernest, Clarence and Carl, all living at Toppenish, and a fifth son, Oscar, resides here [Ellensburg]. Two daughters, Mrs. Iva McElhinney, is of Seattle. She is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. William Taylor of Ellensburg and Mrs. Belle Little of Mabton; one brother, Clayton Grewell of White Bluffs, Wash., and three grandchildren, besides many other relatives
All of her children will be present for the funeral, but it is not known whether the brother and sister who live out of town can be here
The body arrived today from Toppenish and is now at the Bridgham undertaking parlors. The funeral will take place tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock from the parlors and interment will be made in the Odd Fellows Cemetery
Contributed by: Sheli Steedman