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Obituaries
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submitted by: Julia Johnson - juliajoh@usc.edu
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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 16th. 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. 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 26th. 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. Times-Republican Thursday September 26, 1907 [p. 6] Mustered
Out. Robert J. [ohnson] Salen died at his home in Benton Township,
four miles west of Bedford, on Thursday, September 19th,
at 8:30 p.m., aged 62 years, 7 months and 2 days. The funeral sermon was delivered by Rev. A. I. Jones, and the
exercises were in charge of Sedgwick Post, No. 10 G. A. R., of which
deceased was an honored member for many years. The interment was made at Titus [Graceland] cemetery. Robert J. [ohnson] Salen was born in Davis County, Iowa,
February 17, 1845. When
but a small boy his father died, and shortly after, with his mother,
he went to Schuyler County, Missouri.
He remained there only a short time, and in 1857 immigrated
to Bedford, where until the outbreak of the war, he and his mother
lived in a house that stood where McMahill's west livery barn now
stands. When the first rumbling of the mighty war tempest
that was soon to deluge the whole country in blood, was first heard,
Robert Salen was but a young lad, and the sole support of a widowed
mother. But while his flag needed defenders it
was hard for him to remain quietly at home. He stood it, however, for a while, but by the time he had reached
his 17th year, the call of duty to his flag was too strong
to be resisted, and on December 19, 1863, he enlisted in Company F,
29th Iowa Infantry.
For three years he marched, fought and endured all the hardships
of a soldier's life, and when he was mustered out his record was one
of which his children may always have cause for feeling proud. After the war, Mr. Salen returned to Bedford, and
on February 4, 1866, was married to Miss [Marilla] Jane Howe. To this union four children were born, all of whom, together
with their mother, survive.
The children are, Albert, the youngest, who resides at home; Robert A. [rthur], who lives a miles west of the parental
home; Mrs. Mary [Etta] Gant of Taylor County, and Mrs. Alice [May] Simpson of Des Moines. All were present at their father's side
during his last hours. In early manhood Mr. Salen followed the avocation
of brick mason, but later concluded to engage in farming. His first year on the farm was spent a
mile north of Bedford. The
next few years he lived a short distance south of town. He then purchased the farm where he made his home for the thirty
remaining years of his life. As a man he was frugal and thrifty, though never
niggardly, while the call of distress met from him a ready response. As a neighbor he was kind and accommodating
and merited the good will of all. As a husband and father he was considerate and loving. In all things he was just and honorable
and in his death Taylor County has lost one of its best citizens. 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 6th
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. Times-Republican Thursday September 2, 1926 [p. 5] Gustavus
Dawes Death
came to Gustavus [A.] 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.
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