[Melvin C. Webb]

Times-Republican

Thursday    September 26, 1907    [p. 2]

Death of Melvin Webb.

Melvin C. Webb died at his home in Omaha, of typhoid fever, on Monday, September 16^th.

The deceased was born in Taylor County and resided here until he was 18 years of age.  After leaving Taylor County he resided in various places until 14 years ago when he went to Omaha, where he made his home up to the time of his death.

Three of Mr. Webb's sisters still reside in Taylor County.  They are Mesdames E. [llis] P. [hilip] Titus [Etta], Charles Taylor [Nancy] and Wm. Nendick [Sarah Elizabeth].  Of his old friends who knew him during his youthful days many are still living in this vicinity, to whom his death just at the beginning of his days of greatest usefulness, will bring sincere sorrow and regret.  Deceased is survived by a wife and two children.

[Mary Litteer Widner]

Times-Republican

Thursday     January 30, 1908    [p. 1]

At Rest.

Mrs. Mary Widner died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Jennie Daugherty, in Bedford, at noon Sunday, January 26^th.  The funeral was held on Wednesday at 10 a.m., conducted by Rev. A. I. Jones.  Interment at Lexington cemetery.

Mrs. Widner comes of a noble lineage, her great grandfather having been a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and she, herself, had an interesting history.  She was born in New Jersey, Nov. 13, 1832, but came west during early life.  Many years ago, with her husband, she settled in Taylor County, and ever since this has been her home.  She was the mother of ten children, and all of them survive her, and all but one were present at the obsequies.

During her long residence here she has made many friends, and was a woman whom all who knew respected and admired.

More extended obituary notice will appear later.

[WIDNER, MARY LITTEER]
Bedford Times-Republican (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, January 30, 1908
Elmer Ulrich of Corning was called to Bedford by the death of his grandmother, Mrs. Widner, and returned home Tuesday evening.

[WIDNER, MARY LITTEER]
Bedford Free Press (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, January 30, 1908
Mrs. Mary Widner – Miss Mary Litteer was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, November 13, 1832 and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lee Daugherty, in Bedford Sunday at noon, January 26, 1908, from Bright's disease.
On January 18, 1851, the deceased was united in marriage with Mr. Henry Widner in her native state. They lived there for a year and then moved to Virginia where they were still residing when the war broke out. Mr. Widner was a member of the home guard which had important duties to perform on the border state like Virginia. They left Virginia and came west and on the first day of February 1877, landed in Bedford, which has since been their home. The deceased was left a widow on January 11, 1895 and since then she has borne life's vicissitudes alone, with her family of children as a comfort in her old age. She was the mother of eleven children all of whom are living with the exception of one who died in infancy. Those living are Mrs. Irene Ulrich, Bedford; John H., Blockton; Catherine B. Mohler, Bedford; Lytle C., Bedford; Allen H., Clarence, Mo.; R. [oseberry] B., Salix, Ia.; R. H., Yellowpine, La.; Jennie Daugherty, Bedford; Lulu Griffith and Ruth Frantz, both of Conway. All were present with their mother during her last sickness except R. H. Widner of Yellowpine, La. Aside from these children who are left to mourn her departure she also leaves a brother, A. J. Litteer of Bedford and a sister, Mrs. Phebe Butler, who lives in New Jersey.
Mrs. Widner was united with the M. E. church in 1859 and has since been a true Christian woman. While she had been a sufferer for years, she had been bedfast only about a week. During her sufferings she bore it as only a Christian can, her faith in Christ sustaining her to the last and made her ready to undertake her last long voyage to the Unknown World. As a mother she was most devoted and indulgent, no sacrifice being too great for her to undertake for the welfare of her children.
The funeral was held Tuesday at 10 o'clock a. m. at the home of Mrs. Lee Daugherty, conducted by Rev. A. I. Jones, assisted by Rev. S. E. Henry, and the remains were taken to Lexington cemetery, there to lie at rest by the side of her departed husband. The bereaved relatives have the sympathy of all.

[WIDNER, MARY LITTEER]
Bedford Free Press (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, January 30, 1908
R. [oseberry] B. Widner, who was here to attend the funeral of his mother, Mrs. Mary Widner, left Tuesday evening for his home at Salix, Ia.
Elmer Ulrich, of Corning, was in the city Tuesday attending the funeral of his grandmother, Mrs. Mary Widner.
A. [llen] H. Widner, who was here attending the funeral of his mother, left yesterday for his home at Anabel, Mo.

[Daniel Woodard Hamblin]

Times-Republican

Thursday    September 2, 1926    [p. 5]

Daniel Woodard Hamblin

On last Saturday night there passed away from this mortal life a most interesting character, one of God's noblemen.  If long life is one of the rewards of keeping God's commands, then "Grandpa Hamblin" has received the full measure of his Master's reward.  He belonged to that hardy New England stock which vied with each other in those sturdy virtues upon which all that is worth while are builded, and upon which the very fabric of the church and nation are laid.

Daniel Woodard Hamblin was born at Summer Hill, Cayuga County, New York, March 24, 1827.  He passed away at the home of his son, Frank L., in Sharpsburg, Ia., August 21, 1926, aged 99 years, 4 months and 27 days.  We can scarcely realize that span in American history to which his birth points----to the administration of John Quincy Adams, the 6^th president of these United States; to within two years of the time the Erie Canal was completed; to one year before the ground was broken for the first railroad track in America; to 3 years before the first locomotive was built by Peter Cooper, to only one year after the first successful temperance society was organized in Boston, Mass.  The deceased was reared in a home where around the altar, the family was gathered, prayers were offered and the Bible read every day.  In 1850, he was united in marriage to Anna Sarah Kenyon.  To this union five children were born, two of whom died in infancy.  The eldest son, Horace K., passed away at Bedford in 1917.  The second son, Arthur Allen, lives near Gravity, while the third son, Frank L., with whom the deceased has made his home since 1895, lives at Sharpsburg.  His wife preceded him in death 23 years.  There were ten grandchildren; all except one are living.  There are twenty-two great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.  Thus is revealed the unusual fact that five generations have been living at the same time.  The deceased has made his home in Taylor County, Iowa, for sixty-nine years.  When 15 years of age he made public profession of his faith in Christ and united with the Congregational church at Summer Hill, New York.  In 1860, upon his credentials from that church, he was received into the fellowship of the One Hundred and Two River Presbyterian Church at Bedford, Iowa.  He afterwards became one of the charter members of the Fairview Presbyterian Church, and one of its ruling elders.  He has served continuously in that capacity from that time to the present day.  He was also honored by his Presbytery, by being appointed on the Presbyterian committees, which organized the Bedford, Fairview, Conway, Gravity and Lenox churches.  From early manhood until two years ago when age and its infirmities impaired his hearing and locked his gates of vision, he was seldom absent from the services of his church.  He was a devout student of the Bible and for many, many years the teacher of a Bible class.  During the last months of his life, he was often heard repeating those blessed words of Scripture, which he had memorized in earlier life.  In the prime of his manhood, the deceased took keen interest in his country and community.  For 16 consecutive years he was a member of the Board of Supervisors by the sufferance of his fellow men.  He had much to do with purchasing, platting and planning of the County Farm, with its first buildings.  The faithful servant of his home, his church, his country and his God has laid aside his armor.  It has been faithfully and conscientiously worn throughout a long life.  He passed away on the infinite arms of love and mercy, as quietly as the little babe will close its eyes in slumber upon its mother's breast.

[Gustavus Adolphus Dawes]

Times-Republican

Thursday    September 2, 1926    [p. 5]

Gustavus Dawes

Death came to Gustavus A. [dolphus] Dawes at 7:00 p.m., August 19, at his home in north Athelstan.  He was an aged pioneer of this country, having practiced medicine during the early settlement.  He was active in this profession until a few years ago when he retired to the present home in Athelstan.

Funeral services were held at the home, August 21, at 10 a.m.  Interment was given in the Athelstan cemetery.  He is survived by his wife [Maria Kemery Gartside] and several near relatives.