LAST GOLD STAR MOTHER PASSES

Legion Post Bears Name of Anna Porter's Sons

Mrs. Anna B. Porter, for two of whose sons Codd-French post of the American Legion of Colfax is partly named, died Sunday morning at her farm home on the South Palouse River road east of here, at the age of 81 years.

Relatives said that the call was made by Dr. F. A. Bryant shortly before her death marked the first time in her life that she had been attended by a physician.

SONS DIE IN SERVICE

Mrs. Porter, the last of this community's Gold Star Mothers, gave two sons in the cause of the First World War. Ray French, a marine, who was killed in action in the Argonne in France, and Homer French, with the air squadron, who was drowned in the English Channel.

Their father, Cy French, who had homesteaded east of Colfax, died in 1901.

Mrs. Porter came west by wagon train from Missouri in 1871. Her marriage to Robert P. Porter took place in 1898. For the past 37 years, she had made her home on the farm in which she passed away.

Rites Thursday Evening

Funeral services were to be held Thursday evening at 7 o'clock at the Bruning Chapel, the Rev. C.M. Hereford, Steptoe, officiating. Burial was to be in the Colfax Cemetery. Pall Bearers chosen included Tom Elliott, W. P. Felch, Dick Liddle, Ed Roberts, Wm. Sutherland and Leo Carter.

She is survived by one sons, Ralph French of Spokane; who also saw service in the first war; three daughters, Mrs. Pearl P. Walker, Colfax; Mrs. Ethel Haertel, Portland, Ore; and Florence French of Elk River, Idaho.

Whitman County Gazette 1942 Added by: Merryme on 21 Nov 2019

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ANNA B. PORTER

Colfax, Wash.., Aug. 18 (Special)-- The Rev. C. M. Hereford will conduct services at Bruning's Chapel at 7 p.m. Thursday for Mrs. Anna B., Porter, 81, a resident of the Colfax district since 1881, who died at her home Sunday night.

She was a 2x Gold Star mother. Two of her sons, Ray and Homer French, had lost their lives in the World War in 1918. Codd-French post of the American Legion was named for her sons and for Raymond Codd, also killed in action during World War I.

Survivors include a son, Ralph French, in Spokane; and three daughters, Mrs. Pearl P. Walker, Colfax; Mrs. Ethel Haertel, Portland, Ore; and Florence French of Elk River, Idaho.

 Spokane Daily Chronicle, August 18, 1942 Page 5 

Added by: Merryme on 14 Jan 2024

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AN OLD TRAGEDY

RECALLED BY THE DIVORCE SUIT OF CYRUS FRENCH

In the Superior Court on Friday, Cyrus French, a farmer near Colfax, commenced an action for divorce against Mrs. Annie E. French, alleging in his complaint that the defendant during the past two years had refused to act a wifely part. However, no reason existed why she should not do so. After he and Mrs. French were married in this county in 1882, and had seven children, of which the plaintiff asks for custody and full control, and that the defendant be compelled to accept $1000 in lieu of her community rights.

This is but the beginning of another tragedy in the life of Mrs. French. It brings forcibly to recollection the greater tragedy in which she played a leading part.

Old files of the Gazette tell the story of her first appearance in Whitman County. In the early spring of 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, (now Mrs. French) and Mr. and Mrs. Bloomfield, who had been old neighbors and friends in the Kansas City, Kansas neighborhood, came to the northwest in company.

Bloomfield and his wife were people past middle age, although Mrs. Bloomfield was an unusually handsome woman.

The four people remained in Portland throughout the winter, but in February went to Walla Walla. Here the two women were left in a hotel, while Thomas and Bloomfield started for the four lakes, or the Medical Lake neighborhood, in search of land.

Bloomfield took with him considerable money and government bonds to the amount of about $2000. About two weeks later Thomas returned to Walla Walla alone and informed Mrs. Bloomfield that her husband, after crossing the Snake River had gone on alone, while he had returned to get the women.

The three then traveled to Medical Lake and Mr. Bloomfield not appearing, his wife became alarmed and demanded that they return to Walla Walla. On the way back, and close to where Sprague now stands, then included in Whitman County, Thomas murdered Mrs. Bloomfield, in the presence of his wife, her clothing was stripped from her body, which was partially concealed under the sagebrush near the roadside.

That day, Mr. and MRs. Thomas traveled to Washtucna Spring and camped for the night. Other campers there informed them that Bloomfield's body had been discovered near Prescott, in Walla Walla county, where Thomas, after killing and robbing the body, had concealed it in the brush by the side of the Touchet River.

Thomas at once sold his team, wagon, and equipage, and came to Colfax, where he sold Bloomfield's bonds to Lennington's bank and then the couple left the country.

A rider after stock soon after discovered Mrs. Bloomfield's body lying partially covered by snow and age brush, where Mr. and Mrs. Thomas had concealed it. The two bodies found were identified as those who were seen with Thomas and his wife in Portland and Walla Walla, and it was remembered that Mrs. Bloomfield had been seen leaving Medical Lake with Thomas'. They were traced back to Kansas City and were arrested and brought back to Walla Walla and held for trial.

At the spring term of court in Colfax, they were brought here and taken into court. A change of venue was asked and refused, and the defendants then demanded the statutory time to plead. This put off the trial until November term, and the prisoners were taken back to Walla Walla for trial.

Thomas was tried in Walla Walla County for the murder of Bloomfield, convicted, sentenced, and hanged.

Mrs. Thomas was tried in Colfax, for complicity in the murder of Mrs. Bloomfield. After a long and exciting trial, Mrs. Thomas was acquitted. Feelings ran very high, and when the verdict was announced, a mere matter of sex prevented an attempt at lynching. When on the seat, Thomas confessed his guilt of the murder of both Mr. and Mrs. Bloomfield, and that his wife was always innocent, except in having concealed the murder of Mrs. Bloomfield. He said he had threatened to kill his wife if she told.

After the trial, Mrs. Thoms continued to live here, working for her living and in a short time gaining the respect and confidence of all those who met her. After a year, she was married to Cyrus French, then a businessman in Colfax.

At the time of her trial, Mrs. Thomas was a handsome woman, of distinguished appearance.