[Leila Jeanette Williamson Henry]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday   November 14, 1974    p. 6

Last Rites Held In So. Dak. For Leila Henry, 70

Funeral services for Mrs. C. L. (Leila Jeanette) Henry, 70, of Martin, South Dakota, a native of Bedford, were held November 4 at St. Katharine's Episcopal Church with Rev. Philip Nevels in charge.  Mrs. Henry died October 31 at Gordon, Nebr., Memorial Hospital.  Interment was made at Martin Community Cemetery.

She is a sister-in-law of Hubert and Doyle Henry of Bedford.

Leila Jeanette Williamson was born September 2, 1904, at Bedford, in Taylor County, Ia., a daughter of Bruce and Lillian Williamson.

She was married February 16, 1924, at Bedford to C. [arol] L. [ee] "Pat" Henry and they made their home here until 1930 when they moved to Martin.  Mrs. Henry taught in rural schools in Bennett County for several years.

One son, Carol "Butch" Henry, was born to this union, and he presently makes his home in Lakeside, Calif.

Other survivors include six grandchildren; one sister, Gladys Van Alstine, Council Bluffs, Ia.; one brother, Max Williamson, White Salmon, Wash.

She was preceded in death by her husband.

Among relatives here from a distance to attend rites were Mr. and Mrs. Dale Van Alstine [Gladys], Council Bluffs, Ia.; Hubert Henry and Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Henry [Phyllis Thompson], Bedford; Mr. and Mrs. David Henry [Dorothy Erickson], Sturgis; and Mr. and Mrs. Carol L. [ee] Henry, Lakeside, Calif.

[Clark Edwin Thompson]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    October 21, 1965    p. 5

Clark Thompson Service Held Here Oct. 17

Graveside services for Clark Edwin Thompson, 77, long time Taylor county resident, were conducted by Carl Cummings October 17, at Graceland Cemetery.  Mr. Thompson died October 14, 1965, at Benton, Arkansas.

Clark Edwin Thompson, only child of Edwin Clark and Ada Evans Thompson, was born near Bedford in Taylor County, Iowa, on Sept. 5, 1888.

Clark grew to adulthood on the farm where he was born and was active in the various community interests.

On October 2, 1913, he was united in marriage to Florence Ruby Simpson, and to them were born three daughters and two sons.

The family moved to Baxter Springs, Kansas, in 1928 where he was employed as engineer and mechanic in mining interests near there.  In 1961 he moved to Benton, Arkansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Florence, who passed away in June 1957, and a son, Edwin, and a daughter, Betty, who died in their youth.

Left to cherish memories are his daughter, Ada May Sperberg and her husband, Richard, of Benton, Arkansas, Pauline Kennedy and her husband, John M. of Springfield, Mass.; and a son Eugene S. Thompson and his wife Dorothea of Heilbronn, Germany; four grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

He was a member of Taylor Lodge No. 156 A. F. & A. M. of Bedford, Iowa.

He was a kind and loving husband and father, friend and neighbor, and will be missed by those who knew him.

Mr. and Mrs. Sperberg attended the services here.

[Martin V. King]

Times-Republican

Thursday    July 18, 1918   [p.1]

Pioneer of Two States is Gone

Martin V. King Died at Geneva, Neb. and Buried Here Sunday

Was one of the Pioneers of Bedford and One of the Early Sheriffs of the County—-Was Also County Treasurer and Post Master

The funeral of Martin V. King of Geneva, Neb., was held Sunday afternoon in Bedford at the home of H. [iram] M. Long, conducted by Rev. L. P. Goodwin of the M.E. Church. A quartette, composed of Miss Beryl Rhoads, Guy Thompson, Jean Thompson, and Kenneth Stephens, gave some most impressive musical selections and Guy Thompson also gave a splendid tenor solo.  The interment was in Bedford cemetery beside the remains of two children who had preceded him.

Mr. King, who was affectionately known to all his old associates as Mart, was one of the pioneers of Bedford.  Although he has made his home in Geneva, Neb., where he was also a pioneer, for the last quarter of a century, he frequently visited in Bedford and thus kept in touch with the folks back "home."  He was born in Farmington, Iowa, January 22, 1841, and 11 years later came to Bedford where there was nothing here but a boundary line and perhaps a couple of wooden shacks.  He enlisted from this place in Co. F, 29^th infantry, when the Civil War opened and served about three years.  Upon his return he was united in marriage with Miss [Josephine] Hoover and to them one son, Oran E. [Achilles], was born.  She died in 1869 [1870].  Later he was married to Miss [Sarah] Tude Long, a sister of H. [enry] P. and H. [iram] M. Long, who still reside here, and she was his constant companion since.

Upon returning from the war, Mr. King tried farming for a short time, and in 1866 was elected sheriff of Taylor County, being known as the "boy sheriff," he being but 22 years of age.   After serving faithfully and well in this position he was elected treasurer of the county in 1868.  When U. S. Grant was elected president, he appointed Mr. King as postmaster of Bedford, and he served in this capacity during the Grant administration. He went to Geneva, Neb., in 1883, and his ability soon won for him public recognition.  He owned and conducted a newspaper there for a few years and served as postmaster during the McKinley administration.  He was appointed county judge and for several years in later life was deputy treasurer.  He opened the first set of abstract books for Fillmore County.

The subject of this sketch was held in the highest esteem by all, and the children, especially of Geneva, were his friends.  He was a member of the Methodist church since his boyhood and was an active worker in its circles.  As a member of the G. A. R. he was especially active and was state commander of that body for the state of Nebraska.  He was also a member of the Masonic order and the O. E. S.

Mr. King has not enjoyed good health for the last four or five years and on Tuesday of last week as he was sitting in the yard with a little grandchild at his home he fell over from an apoplectic stroke.  He was taken into the house, and while he partially regained consciousness he was never able to speak again, passing away Wednesday evening. 

H. [enry] P. and H. [iram] M. Long replied to the summons and went out and were with him at the time of his death as were also most all of his children.  He leaves to mourn his death his faithful wife and two sons and two daughters, who are Oran, of Jackson, Calif.; Roy, of Carroll, Neb.; Mrs. Ethel Bradford of Lincoln, Neb.; Miss Caroline, a teacher in the Lincoln schools, but whose home is in Geneva.  Aside from these he leaves numerous relatives.

Those relatives attending the funeral from out of town were: Oran King of Jackson, Cal.; Roy King, wife and two sons, Carroll, Neb.; Prof. and Mrs. Bradford [Ethel King], Lincoln, Neb.; Miss Caroline King, Lincoln, Neb.; George King of Athelstan; Mr. and Mrs. Al King, Mrs. Ann Hickenlooper, Jon King and family, Chas. King and family, David King, Wm. Ewart and family of Blockton and Mrs. Maude Chaney of Ames, Iowa.

[Joseph Boyer Townsend]

Times-Republican

Thursday     September 18, 1923    [p. 2]

J. B. Townsend Dead

The Times-Republican is handed a Stevensville, Mont., paper which chronicles the death of a former well known citizen of this place, and which contains the following obituary which we publish, as Mr. Townsend was quite well known in these parts, being a brother of Mrs. Matilda Herbert who resides here.

Obituary

Joseph Boyer Townsend was born in Indiana, December 25^th, 1843.  In his youth he moved to Iowa where he grew to manhood.  In 1861 he enlisted and joined Co. K 4^th regiment Iowa infantry.  His service was mostly in the western division of the army but he engaged in some of the heaviest battles such as Lookout Mountain, Pea Ridge and Vicksburg.  The last battle of the Civil War in which he participated was at Atlanta under Sherman.  His time of enlistment being up, having served four years, he was sent back to Louisville, Kentucky and received his discharge.  December 10, 1865, he was married to Isabel Bradbury.  The living children of this marriage are: Mrs. Etta Strong, Deer Lodge, Mont.; Ira Townsend, Alder, Mont.; Mrs. Pearl Head, Butte, Mont.; Arthur Townsend, Missoula, Mont.; Mrs. Nora Snyder, Edgewood, Calif.   Death visited this home and the mother of these children was taken away December 4, 1889.

He was married to Mrs. Mary Boatman Martin, May 10, 1891.  To this union was born Mrs. Grace Hightower of Missoula and Joseph Townsend of Great Falls.  Besides the wife and children mentioned he leaves one brother, Mr. Henry Townsend of Elgin, Ore., and one sister, Matilda Herbert of Bedford, Iowa, eighteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He moved to Montana in 1874 and located at Dillon.  Twenty-five years ago the 17^th day of last July he located in the Bitter Root Valley, Mont., about three and one-half miles northeast of Stevensville, where he finished life's course Saturday morning, August 18^th, at the very good age of 79 years, 8 months and 23 days.  Early in his married life he entered the Christian life.  He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Stevensville.