James B. Ford

FORD, WILLEFORD

Posted By: Ann Sears Selvig (email)
Date: 8/16/2014 at 10:28:26

JAMES B. FORD DIED MONDAY

J. B. Ford, a citizen of Humeston since 1904, died Monday evening at his home one block north of the park and the age of almost eighty years. For the past three years he has been ill much of the time, since receiving an injury to one of his feet while visiting his son Bert in Montana, which required amputation of part of the foot and which never entirely healed. He was a good citizen and held in high esteem and always had a cheery word and bright smile for all.

Services were held at the home at 2:30 yesterday afternoon, conducted first by Rev. T. R. Gray of the Congregational church speaking from the old text. "If a man died, shall he live again"? Then the Chappaqua lodge of Odd Fellows gave their ritualistic ceremony followed by the Fidelity lodge of Masons. A quartet composed of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Taylor, Bernice Schnee and Ernest Miller, sang several hymns without instrumental accompaniment. The body was taken today to Canton, Mo., for burial, that having been his request. Mrs. Ford and son Harry accompanying the body; the other son Bert went Tuesday to make arrangements for the burial. The following obituary was read at the funeral:

James B. Ford was born in Batea County, Missouri, Sept. 15, 1841 and departed this life Aug. 22, 1921 at 6:20 in the evening; his age being 79 years, 11 months and 7 days.

He was married to Miss Emma Willeford on Feb. 21st, 1877 at Canton, Missouri. To this union were born four children: George, who died in 1912; Mr. Ruth Culmsee and Mrs. Mary Kyner of Humeston and Harry of Des Moines. These with his devoted wife and an older son Herbert by his first marriage and the following grandchildren: Mrs. Emma Robert of Garden Grove, Carroll, Lucile and Louise Culmsee; Lyndol Ford of Des Moines and Virginia and Roy Eugene Kyner, are left to mourn the loss of a dear husband, father and grandfather.

Mr. Ford served four years in the Civil War as a member of the 21st Missouri Infantry.

He was a member of both the Odd Fellow and Masonic Orders and an honored member of the G. A. R.

Mr. Ford looked to his spiritual interests, and for years has been a member of the Congregational church. It can fittingly be said of him. "He was a good man": His faith in mankind was only second to his faith in God. And his sympathy for the needy and suffering was constant and unfailing. For others, he lended a ready hand. "Their welfare pleased him, their cares distressed; To them his heart, his love, his griefs were given. But all his serious thoughts had rest in Heaven. Though 'round his breast the rolling clouds were spread. Eternal sunshine settles on his head."

The Humeston New Era (Humeston, Iowa) , Wed. Aug 24, 1921