Esther Johnston Tedford

TEDFORD, ORR, JOHNSTON, GILKEY

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 2/1/2023 at 09:35:35

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, May 1, 1913
page 1

Esther Johnston Tedford. Esther A. Orr was born May 26, 1828, in McMinn county, Tennessee and was the daughter of Wm. and Mary Walker Orr. She came with them to Iowa in 1851 and settled on a farm southwest of Columbus City which is still retained by the family. She was married to James Harvey Johnston, January 31, 1861, who passed away in death June 22, 1890.

Several years later she was married to John Tedford, who died August 17, 1911. To her first marriage were born four children, two of whom died in infancy, and Rufus Sherman Johnston of Columbus City and Mrs. H. M. Gilkey, who survive to mourn her demise.

Her maternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and served for several years as a recruiting officer. She is also survived by one brother, W. W. Orr, of Union township. Mr. Orr is 87 years of age. Four brothers and one sister preceded her in death.

She was almost a lifelong member of the Associate Reformed church, having served faithfully her Savior for more than sixty years. For the past two years she has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. H. M. Gilkey, where she died April 24, 1913, at the age of 84 years, 10 months and 28 days. Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home of her son, R. S. Johnston, in Columbus City by Rev. Atcheson of Allerton and were attended by a large concourse of sorrowing relatives and friends. Interment in the Columbus City cemetery.