Villisca Review, 13 February 1906

MRS. BIDWELL DIED TUESDAY

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--Already several death notices had been written for our columns when intelligence reached us that Mrs. Mary Bidwell had succumbed to the influence of the disease, bronchitis, which fastened itself upon her form a few days since.  During a great part of the time since her husband died , eight years ago, she made her home with her son Fred but recently went to Grant to help care for her son James, who was very sick with pneumonia and while there was taken sick and died Tuesday evening at about five o'clock at the age of nearly 68 years.

   Mrs. Bidwell was born in Missouri but with her husband came to Iowa in the early pioneer days and the memory of her simple but beautiful life time nor circumstances efface, and today many friends of this good and kind old lady mingle their sorrow with that of the children -- James Bidwell of Grant, George of Kansas, Chas. of Oregon, Fred of Villisca, Mrs. John Gaskell of Nodaway and Mrs. Belle Pitts of Villisca. One child died in infancy.

   The funeral services were held this afternoon from the Arlington M. E. church and the remains were buried in the cemetery there beside those of her husband.

Villisca Review, 26 April 1906

HOME WITHOUT A MOTHER

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   The W. F. Mayhew home north of town has been robbed of its cheerful, joyous, kind and loving wife and mother whose sweet presence gave the home its wealth and peace, happiness and comfort, and when the announcement of her sudden and unexpected demise was made the whole community was plunged into deepest sorrow.  Mrs. Mayhew was sick only a few hours and at four o'clock last Thursday afternoon she and her infant son were numbered with those who have gone to their eternal home.  These circumstances make the death a doubly sad one and numerous friends share the untold grief of the sorely afflicted husband, children and other relatives.  At the funeral services held last Saturday afternoon from the Holmes Chapel an exceptionally large number of grief stricken friends were present to do the last honor to all that was mortal of the one who was so generally beloved and now so sincerely mourned.  The floral offerings were  many and beautiful.  The remains were buried in the Memorial cemetery, Rev. Dulling officiating.

    Mattie Bell Saylor was born in Knox county, Ohio, March 26, 1863, and came to Iowa with her parents when five years of age.  In the fall of 1874 the family moved to this county and when 15 years of age Miss Saylor united with the Sciola Baptist church but later affiliated with the Holmes Chapel M. E. church, of which she was a faithful and consistent member until her demise.  She attended the Villisca high school for some time and later became successful teacher in the rural schools of Montgomery county.  December 5, 1882 she was united in marriage to Waldo P. Mayhew, by Rev. J. M. Holmes, and to this union were born ten children, of who seven, Mrs. Verna Bryson, Myrtle, Donna, Ruth, Loul--, Leona, and Zota Mayhew with the father remain to mourn the loss of the true and loving mother and companion.  Deceased also leaves her aged parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Saylor, and three sisters, Mrs. Ellen Goble, Mrs. Elizabeth Lattimer, and Mrs. Bonnie Rhnel.    

   Those from a distance who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Lattimer and son, Mrs. J. P. Chandler and daughter Gertrude, Mrs. Frank Whitney of Cumberland; Mr. and Mrs.  G. A. Taylor, Mrs. J. T. Hobson, Mrs. A. J. Seefeldt, Mrs. C. R. Dam---, Mrs. Mary Jeffers, Mrs. O. A. Milner, Mrs. Hossle of Red Oak; Mrs, Jessie Nutting of Omaha; .....