Ella Belle (Davis) Bamford (1858-1938)

DAVIS, BAMFORD, MACE, GREENE, TRACEWELL, TICHENOR, ROSS, THOMPSON, BAILLIE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:14

From Nevada Evening Journal January 15, 1938 (page 3)

Mrs. Ella Bamford Was Laid to Rest In Colo Cemetery

Special to the Journal.
Colo, Jan. 15--Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Calvary Evangelical church for Ella Bamford who passed away Monday at the home of her con, Rev. Hubert Bamford.

The scripture was read and sermon preached by Rev. C. R. Frankhauser of Des Moines who was Mrs. Bamford's pastor during her residence in Des Moines. The obituary was read by Rev. E. R. McClelland of Blairstown. The songs "In the Upper Garden," "Good Night and Good Morning" and "No Disappointment in Heaven" were beautifully sung by a mixed quartet composed of Mrs. A. D. Steffenson, Mrs. C. W. Yeager, Rev. E. C. Boom and Rev. P. W. Pfaltzgraft. They were accompanied at the piano by Mrs. Merle Dickson.

The many beautiful flowers were in charge of Mrs R. W. Brouhard, Mrs. Earl Wright and Mrs. Etta Clarke.

Pallbearers were Ralph Handsaker, M. R. McCoy, Homer Rayton, W. H. Donaldson, Dr. M. L. Rankin, J. D. Lounsberry.

Relatives and ministers attending from out of town included Rev. and Mrs. Huber Bamford, daughters Eleanor and Evelyn of Council Bluffs, Mrs. Glen Ross of Duluth, Minn., Mr.a nd Mrs. Floyd Baillie and the formers mother Mrs. Baillie of Des Moines, Rev. Paul Davis and wife of Van Horn and Clyde Davis of Tama, Rev. J. A. Haehlen, dist. supt. of Des Moines, Rev. Pickford and Rev. Klooz and wife of Nevada, Rev. Schulter, Rev. Dietrich and Rev. and Mrs. L. H. Wood of Mt. Ayr, Rev. P. W. Pfaltzgraft of Hubbard and a group of friends from Des Moines and possibly others.

Mrs. Ella Belle Bamford, nee Davis, was born near Marietta, Ohio, April 1, 1858 and died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, January 10, 1938, aged 79 years, 9 months and 9 days.

She taught in the rural schools of Ohio for a few years and then came to Pottawattamie county, Iowa in 1881. Here she again engaged in teaching for a short time. She was married to John M. Bamford, February 23, 1882. Three sons and four daughters were born to them. All survive except the oldest son Frank who died at the age of 28.

In 1886 she and her husband with their two children went to northwest Nebraska where they entered claim for a homestead. Four years later they returned to Iowa. They were converted in Fairview Evangelical church near Oakland, Iowa. In 1896 Mr. Bamford entered the ministry of the Des Moines conference. Together with her husband Mrs. Bamford rendered faithful service for 28 years in the several churches where they were appointed.

It became necessary to retire from this work in 1924 because of the failing health of her husband. They made their home at Colo, Iowa. On May 16, 1932, her husband succumbed to his illness and since that time she has made her home with her children.

Mrs. Bamford was a devoted Christian woman who won friends wherever she lived. She was interested in young people. She was of a happy disposition and brought cheer and good will wherever she went. For several years she taught the ladies; Bible class at Colo til her failing eyesight made it necessary for her to give up that work. Her life was one of generous service and love. A great host of friends were here wherever she lived.

She was one of a family of twelve children. Of these she is survived by one brother, Walter C. Davis of Van Horne, Iowa and three sisters, Mrs. Myrtle Mace of Lake Worth, Fla., Mrs. Janatt Greene of Osseo, Wis., Mrs. Viola Tracewell, Akron, Ohio. Two sons Rev. G. Hubert Bamford of Council Bluffs and Walter V. Bamford of Colo, four daughters, Mrs. Mabel Tichenor of Colo, Mrs. Alice Ross of Duluth, Minn., Mrs. Belle Thompson of Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Mrs. Marie Baillie of Des Moines. There are nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.