2nd – Nellie Bernard 

2nd – 9 Sep 1926 in Vancouver, WA 

Fred Aaron Richter was born 7 Sep 1876 in Albany, OR to William and Albertine [Betz] Richter. He was one of six children born to the couple. The family moved to Salem by 1872. His father worked at the penitentiary as a guard.  

In 1895 the Marion County census captured a physical description of Fred along with his occupation as a weaver. He was 20 years old with a dark complexion, 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 160 pounds. The family lived at 525 N 20th and in 1900, the census recorded Fred still lived with his mother and siblings. He was 25 years old and worked as a stationary engineer.   

In September 1903, Fred married divorcee Delia Moore in the Polk County Courthouse in Dallas, OR, Judge J.E. Sibley officiated. No children were born to the couple. In 1908, Fred and Delia took a position at the Yankton Indian School in Greenwood, South Dakota. The Capital Journal newspaper reported that Fred had been in the Indian School service for several years past, chiefly in Washington state. The couple stated that it was extremely cold in the Dakota country.   

By 1910, the couple had returned to the Pacific Northwest for a job at the Indian School in Miles, WA. Fred worked as an engineer and Delia as a laundress. Fred was 37 years old. In 1911, Delia died in Spokane, WA. At the time of research, no further information or records could be found indicating the cause of death and where she was buried.  

From Fred’s World War I draft registration card dated 12 Sep 1918, we have a physical description. He was tall, with a slender build. His hair was black and his eyes brown. He would have been 42 years old at the time he filled out the card. He also recorded his employer as the A.H. Averill Machine Co. in Spokane.  

Fred remarried on 9 Sep 1926 in Vancouver, WA. His bride was widower Nellie Bernard. Both lived in Spokane, WA. She was a housewife, and he was an engineer. Nellie had three children from her first marriage, one daughter and two sons. In 1930, the census recorded the couple’s residence as Spokane, WA. Fred was 46 years old and worked as a stationary engineer in a meat plant. The couple owned their own home.  

Fred died 28 Aug 1934 in Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, WA. He was 59 years old. Cause of death was chronic myocarditis. He was buried in Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane, WA. His wife Nellie died in 1948.  

1895 Marion County Census. Fred Richter. Age: 20. Born in Oregon. Height: 5’7”. Weight: 160#. Complexion: Dark. Occupation: Weaver. Religion: Protestant. Male. 

1900  Fred A. Richter. Age: 25. Birth Date: Sep 1874 in Oregon. Home in 1900: 20th St. Prospect, Marion, OR. Single, son to HOH. Occupation: Stationary Engineer. Additional household members: Albertina Richter, age 49 (mother), George W. Richter, age 29 (brother), Minnie Richter, age 27 (sister), William Richter, age 22 (brother), Ella N. Richter, age 14 (sister), Bert Richter, age 12 (brother). 

1905 Marion County Census. Fred Richter. Age: 30. Born in Oregon. No occupation listed. 

1910  Fred A. Richter. Age: 37. Birth Date: 1873 in Oregon. Home in 1910: Miles, Lincoln, WA. Married, HOH. Occupation: Engineer, Indian Service. Additional household member: Delia N. Richter, age 28 (wife). 

1920  Unable to locate 

1930  Fred Richter. Age: 46. Birth Year: abt 1884 in Oregon. Home in 1930: 811 Illinois St. Spokane, Spokane, WA. Married, HOH. Occupation: Stationary Engineer at Meat Plant. Additional household members: Nellie Richter, age 46 (wife), William Larsen, age 46 (lodger), Mamie C. Larsen, age 57 (lodger). 

Nellie Richter.  Birth: 1879. Death: 1948 (aged 68-69). Burial: Greenwood Memorial Terrace, Spokane, Spokane County, WA. Memorial ID: 179026424 

Capital Journal, 28 Dec 1906, p. 8 – New Position, Yankton Indian School 

Spokane Chronicle, 30 Aug 1934, p. 16 – Death Notice