4th 422

Blk 8 Lot 6-7

1890 - William D. Switzer owner of property

Residence of William Davis Switzer & Lucy A. Robbins Messer Switzer

[CFP 5 October 1917]

Switzers Sell Cheney Home

Mr. and Mrs. David W. Switzer were taken to Spokane last Friday where they entered the Home of the Good Samaritan, probably to spend the remainder of their days.

Their home, at the corner of Normal [College] avenue and Fourth street, which has for many years been a landmark in this city, was sold last week to N.A. Rolfe of the National Bank of Cheney, and the store building on First street, between D street and Normal avenue, long occupied by Mr. Switzer as a drug store, was sold to V.T. Ward. They yet have considerable other property in the city, which probably will be sold at a later date.

With the abandonment of their home here, Cheney has seen the passing of one of the oldest and best-respected families, as Mr. and Mrs. Switzer were among the first settlers here when the city was founded. Their influence on the business, social, and moral life of this community has been strongly felt from the day of their first entry into the city until the present time.

Mr. Switzer, who was a druggist, was one of the leaders in business affairs of the city during all the years of his residence here until some three years ago, when age and failing health compelled him to retire from active affairs. He sold his business at that time to F.W. Franke, and has since lived in retirement.

Mrs. Switzer was no less active than her husband. One of the stanchest believers in prohibition of the liquor traffic, she devoted many years to ceaseless and strenuous labor in behalf of that propaganda. She was an active worker in the Women’s Christian Temperance union, and engaged in many laborious campaigns in the effort to secure the enactment of prohibition legislation in many states. She served several terms as head of the Spokane County WCTU and also as head of the state organization of that body. She delivered addresses far and wide under the authority and direction of the WCTU and the national prohibition party, besides being the author of much literature intended to further the temperance cause. She became well known as a temperance worker and speaker from one end of the country to the other, and the impress of her individuality and zeal will never be forgotten by her coworkers in the prohibition movement.

Mrs. Switzer has the satisfaction of seeing most of the things for which she strove successfully accomplished, and can realize with fair certainty that but a few years intervene when the liquor traffic will have become a thing of memory only and her whole ambition along that line fully realized.

Old age and ill health, which render the aged couple unable properly to care for themselves, impelled the move which they have taken and which removes them from among the neighbors who love and respect them so highly.

The people of Cheney, practically without exception, we feel sure in saying, regret, deeply the fact of their going from among them, and none be who do not wish them well in their new surroundings and the utmost enjoyment of the years yet remaining to them.