THE OROVILLE WEEKLY GAZETTE
Oroville, Okanogan Co, Washington

October 26, 1909
Page 3

McDonough and Clay Hersberger (sic) prosperous Ellemeham mountain ranchers left Monday morning for their old home in Virginia and will probably spend the winter among old scenes and old associations. It is the first trip for pleasure that the former gentleman has made east in 33 years. He was called home in the time of his mother some four years ago, but only remained a few days. He now pr----- to make a long stay and enjoy himself while away.

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The Oroville Weekly Gazette
Oroville, Okanogan Co., Washington
Friday, June 13, 1919 Front page

TRAGIC DEATH

Clay Hershberger was found dead in his home on Ellemeham mountain about nine miles west of Oroville, Tuesday evening by relatives. Death was caused by a bullet from a high-power 22 Savage (sic - gauge?) rifle, which entered at the left side of the right eye and blew away the top of the head. From the position of the body and the manner in which the gun was held by the dead man, it is thought that the shot was fired accidently (sic) while Hersberger (sic) was in the act of cleaning or preparing to clean the rifle.

Relatives in the neighborhood not having seen Hershberger throughout Tuesday, late that evening went to his home to see if he was in and upon entering and striking a match discovered the body of the dead man lying on his bed, his feet crossed and the rifle grasped in both hands, one hand just below the muzzle and the other holding the barrel a few inches above the magazine. The walls of the room and the bed were covered with blood and pieces of the skull had been blown into the wall back of the bed by the force of the explosion. The room looked like a shambles.

Undertaker L. W. Barnes, of Oroville, was immediately called on the telephone, but he was unable to go to the place until Wednesday evening. As the coroner was out of the county, Mr. Barnes brought the body to Oroville to prepare the remains for burial.

Clay Hershberger was a bachelor, about 35 years old, and has lived on Ellemehem for fifteen years. He was an old and highly respected farmer of this county. He leaves four brothers, three of them Mc D., Otis and Rush Hershberger, old residents of this county, and one brother in Oregon.