N.B. - 1918 issues of the Pulaski Enterprise have not been preserved.

The Ullin Times, Friday, 18 Oct 1918:

Mrs. Neal Egner received a telephone message from Mound City saying that Mrs. Gus Corzine had died at 11 o’clock with influenza and would be buried at the Mounds cemetery Thursday afternoon (Friendship)

Thursday night Mrs. James Billingsley got an official message from Washington stating that her son, Roy West, who has been in France for several months, has been missing in action since Sept. 12^th.  Our hearts go out in sympathy to this mother and the members of this boy’s family at this time, but we hope that soon another message will come to bring good news. (Friendship)

Obituary

             Ralph Frederick Vick, son of George C. and the late Sarah C. Vick, was born in Ullin, Aug. 4, 1892, and died at Camp Custer, Mich., Oct. 10, 1918.  He was educated in the Ullin schools.

             He enlisted in the U. S. Army May 2, 1918, and was made corporal Sept. 15, 1918.

He leaves to mourn their loss, his father, Mr. George C. Vick, one brother, Mr. E. A. Vick, four sisters, Mrs. Frank Gandy, Mrs. C. J. Shipley, Kelso, Wash., Mrs. O. J. Serbian, Cairo, and Mrs. Owen Albright, Centralia.  All being here for the funeral except Mrs. Shipley.

Funeral services were conducted at the M. E. church Sunday by Rev. C. R. Dunlap, of Cairo, with interment in the Ullin Cemetery.

(George C. Vick married Sarah C. Newcome on 26 Mar 1882, in Pulaski Co., Ill.  His marker in Ullin Cemetery reads:  Corp. Ralph F. Vick 1892-1918.—Darrel Dexter)

Card of Thanks

             We desire to return our sincere appreciation to the many kind neighbors and friends who assisted us during the burial of our son and brother, Ralph Vick, also for the beautiful floral offerings.

Mr. George C. Vick and family

Mr. O. J. Serbian, Mrs. Henry Serbian, Miss Augusta Serbian, Mr. Harry Davidson, Adam and Hugh Murphy, of Cairo, were here Sunday to attend the funeral of Ralph Vick. 

The Ullin Times, Friday, 29 Nov 1918:

We were sorry to hear of the death of Mrs. Kraatz, who died at her home Sunday morning.  (New Hope)

Obituary

             Mrs. Rudolph Kraatz died suddenly Sunday morning of rheumatism of the heart.  She had not been ill for several months and got up Sunday morning, seemingly well and happy.  She had gone into her kitchen and was preparing to assist in getting breakfast in her usual good humor, when she called to the girl who was helping her to come hold her head, she felt weak.  The girl could not hold her weight and she went to the floor before Mr. Kraatz and her son could reach her.  She was gone a few minutes after they got her on her bed and never spoke again.  She had been ill with this trouble at intervals every few months for the last few years, but she had been so well for some time and in such good spirits her family and her intimate friends felt that she might be entirely well.

             Her death came as a terrible shock to her family, relatives and friends.  Her daughter, Miss Emma Kraatz, was called home from Carbondale, where she was attending school.

             Mrs. Kraatz was one of our school directors and was beloved by every boy and girl who knew her as well as by her grown up friends.

             She was an ideal mother a devoted wife, a helpful neighbor and good citizen.  Always doing for the needy, leading or helping to lead the community in doing things for the welfare of humanity.  The soldier can always remember her as a true friend.

             Mere words cannot express our sorrow in our great loss, nor can they tell this bereaved and broken family how we sympathize with them.  This mother’s beautiful life was an example God has given us and he does well who profits by it.

             Tryphosia Worthington, daughter of the late John T. and Matilda Worthington, was born at Caledonia, Illinois, November 6, 1860.  Died November 24, 1918.  She was married to George Mowery, May 20, 1885.  To this union were born three children, all of whom preceded her.  Mr. Mowery died October 29, 1891.

             She was united in marriage to Rudolph R. Kraatz, October 29, 1893, at Olmsted, Illinois, where they lived for about two years, after which they moved to their present home.

             To the second marriage were born four children, Herman, the oldest, died June 22, 1917.  Emma, Roy and Carl Kraatz, with her husband, survive her.

             She was a devoted Christian since girlhood.  She united with the M. E. church at Center and later transferred her membership to New Hope.

             Those who are left to mourn her departure are her devoted husband, her children, Emma, Roy and Carl Kraatz, her sister, Mrs. Robert G. Crecelius, of Olmsted, Ill., a brother, John A. Worthington, of Anna, her stepson, William Mowery, of Wetaug, Ill., other relatives and hundreds of friends.

             Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Albrecht who was assisted by Rev. A. E. Bunton, at the M. E. Church at New Hope.  Interment was made in the church cemetery.  The pallbearers were Charles Abbott, Joe Baumgart, Joe Sichling, Neal Egner, Robert Reichert, and Mr. Albright.  The flowers were many and beautiful.

Ray Rhymer Killed

Answering the call of duty, as we have always known him to do, Ray O. Rhymer, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Rhymer, made the supreme sacrifice when he gave his life in the cause of freedom from wounds received on the battlefield of France on October 26^th.

News of his death was received here on last Sunday by a telegram from the U. S. War Department to his parents.  It came as a bolt of lightning out of a blue sky and left sorrow, depthless, not only to his parents, but to the entire community, for Ray was, indeed, a likeable fellow, loved and respected by all who knew him.

When the call came for him to answer the summons of the Nation, he went willingly and with the feeling that he was doing but his duty.  Soon after entering the training camp, he was sent overseas for training, and shortly after his entering the first line trenches, he met his death.

He was well and favorably known not only in Ullin, but in Cairo, where prior to the call to arms he held the position of bookkeeper with the Singer Manufacturing Company.  For several months he was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school and he has left a vacancy in that body which can never be filled to the satisfaction of those who knew him best.  He was also a prominent influential member of Cairo Lodge, A. F. & A. M.

This is the first death in action from the ranks of Ullin’s men in the U. S. service and being as he was one of Ullin’s favorite sons, a patriot of the “old school” he has left a bright spot in the memory of the citizens of Pulaski County which shall remain undimmed as the years go by an time ceases to be no more.

We were sorry to hear that Ralph Freize has been killed in France.  He was a Dongola boy until a few years ago, when he moved with his parents to St. Louis.  (Dongola)

We were grieved to hear of the sad news of the death of Mrs. R. R. Kraatz, Sunday morning.  The bereaved ones have the sympathy of the entire neighborhood (Butter Ridge).