White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-07-12
STROKE PROVES FATAL
3. TO +. C. KOPPEN

valley passed away this week when
+. {. Koppen died Monday evening
at his home at Wahluke. Mr.. Koppen
had never fully recovered from the
injuries received in the auto accident
on the highway south of Quincy last
October that resulted in the death of
Mrs. Koppen. He suffered sroks of
PARALYSIS on Wednesday, July 8. and
grew steadily weaker until the end
came few days later.
The funeral was held Wednesday
afternoon, July 10, at his home at
Wahluke and he was laid to rest be-
side Mrs. Koppen in the Wahluke
cemetery. The funeral sermon was
preached by Rev. L. c. Krug of the
Lutheren church.
Frederick C.. Koppen was born in
Germany on April S, 1859. When nine
years old he came with his parents
to the United States and located in
illinois. In few years the family
moved to Minnesota. When in his
early twenties Mr.. Koppen came west
and for several years was cowboy
in Montana, and later followed min
ing in Idaho.
When the Great Northern railroad
was building through to the Coast lie
came to Washington and operated
/ ferry on the Columbia River at Rock
Island, south of Wenatchee. This fer
ry was double deck affair used in
transporting horses and equipment of
the railroad contractors across the
river He operated day ard night and
often crossed as many as fifteen hui
dred horses in a twenty-four hour
period.
When the railroad work was fin
ished, Mr.. Koppen decided to seek
another location and chose the cross
ing between Kennewick and Pasco,
but the ensinser w..o swas plotting tie
boat down the river lost his nerve
at Priest Rapids and the Ferry was
wrecked there. He, however b lit an
other boat which he operated at
Kennewick fer about year.
1t was while he was engaged in
the Ferry business at Rock Island
that he first met Miss Jennie Craw-
ford, who was teaching school some
where near there. and the romance
was begun that ended on'y with M S.
Koppan's death last fall. They were
married III Ellensburg November %,
1897. Shortly after their marriage thew
w mt to Mr.. Koppsn's mining proper
ty hear Boise, Idaho, but on account
of his failing health they left Their
and came to this valley, where in
1899 they established their home.
"The Villa" on Mrs. Koppan's home
stead at Wahiuke, where they have
lived ever since and which has been
a Macca for their many friends all
over the state. One Of the features
of this home was wonderful library
which they collected after their mar
riage, both Of them b.ing inveterate
readers. Mr.. Kopren, especia ly had
made deep study Of astronomy. and
geology and could talk entertainingly
ard with authority on either subject.
An authority, also. on Indian lore
and history, his collection OF arrow
heads and other Indian relics is I'M
excelled anywhere in the west.
In the early days on the home
stead he attempted irrigation by
means of water wheels in the Col
umbia river and at one time was
watering about 80 acres of Land back
of Wahluke. Driftwood in the river
however, proved that the water
wheels were impractical and the pro-
iect was abandoned.
When the Wahluke post office
was established more than twenty
years ago, Mr.. Koppen was appointed
post mastor and held that office TN
til his death For time at first dur
ing the boom days of Wahluke nc
conducted a, store in connection with
the ross-office. He had al7o had
charge of the u. S. Weather Bur-
eau ever since that station was cs-
tablished at Wahluke several years
ago. Another Federal office held BY
Mr.. Koppen was that of U. S. Com
missioner during the tire the land
between Saddle Mountain and the
Columbia river was being home
steaded. =,
Surviving relatives are two BROTH
ers. John Koppen and Joseph kop-
rem Of Manksto, Minnesota. sister
Mrs. Sophi. Louie of Grand Ranidss,
Minnesota, and sister, Mrs Fred
erica Cords of Wahluke.