Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com

[Charles W. Baxter]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    July 17, 1924    [p. 2]

Charles W. Baxter Dead

Charles W. Baxter of near Bedford died last Monday night, July 7th, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mahaffey, near Gravity.  He had been in poor health for some time, finally succumbing to his malady.  He was about 72 years of age at the time of his death.

The funeral services were held Wednesday, July 9th, at the M.E. church in Gravity and interment was in the Gravity cemetery at the side of his wife who preceded him several years ago.  Rev. Talley of this city, his pastor, had charge of the services.

Following is the obituary as read by Rev. Talley at the funeral services:

Charles W. Baxter was born near Muscatine, Iowa, October 28, 1852 and passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Hawley Mahaffey [Beulah], northeast of Gravity, on July 7th, 1924, aged 71 years, 8 months and 9 days.

In 1882 he came with this family to Union County and settled near Shannon City.  Here he resided until 1899 when he came with his family to the farm home near Gravity.  In 1910 they removed to a farm near Bedford, which had been the family home since that time.

In 1873 he was married to Mary F. [rancis] Shellabarger.  To this union 8 children were born, one of whom died in infancy and one daughter Nellie died at the age of ten years.  The children living are Harvey Barton, of Alberta, Canada, Mrs. Alta J. Banning of Diagonal, Theodore Charles of Dodson, Montana, Mrs. Beulah M. Mahaffey of Gravity, John Harold and Ora Mary, both of Bedford.  His wife died March 31, 1917.  Of the surviving children all were present at the funeral except Harvey of Alberta, Canada, and Theodore of Dodson, Mont.  Brother Baxter has one sister living, the only surviving member of his father's family, Mrs. Dosia Fry of Marshalltown, Iowa.  She was present at the services.  There are eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.  All these mourn the loss of a loved one.

Brother Baxter united with the Methodist church at Gravity while living near there.   When he came to live near Bedford he moved his membership together with those of his wife and family.  We believe that he has lived sincerely and conscientiously the Christian life since that time.  He was a man loved by his neighbors, and made many, many friends during his lifetime.

In recent months he had been in failing health.  Naturally of a strong constitution it was thought that he might be able to rally from his affliction but with all that loving hands could do and with the best of medical care he gradually failed until he quietly fell asleep at about eleven o'clock Monday night.


[Ira Graff Thompson]

 Bedford Free Press

April 30, 1925    [p. 5]

Ira G. Thompson Died Last Sunday

Ira G [raff] Thompson, 74 years of age, died at his home west of Bedford last Sunday, April 26th, after years of sickness, being a sufferer for years and especially during the past year.  The funeral service was held at the home last Tuesday afternoon, by Rev. Price of the Christian church and burial was made in the Graceland cemetery.

He was born February 27, 1851, in Macoupin County, Illinois, the son of Jonathan [Monroe] and Nancy Sims Thompson.  At the age of two years, he came with his parents to Wapello [County], Iowa, then moved in 1866 to Schuyler County, Mo.  He was married in 1873 to Alice Warder at Lancaster, Mo., and in 1883 came to Taylor County to make their home, since residing in this county with the exception of three years when they moved back to Missouri.

In the early 90's, deceased united with the Church of Christ of Berea, later placing his membership in the Christian church at Bedford.

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1923.  Left to mourn their loss are the wife and eight children: Mrs. Effie Taylor of Lenox, Elmer, Lester, Troy, Arthur, Walter, Mrs. Bertha Ratliff and Mrs. Flossie Newkirk, all living near Bedford.  There are 22 grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Emma Woodson, of Piedmont, S. Dakota, and one brother, Guilford Thompson, of Corydon, Iowa.

[James T. John]

Bedford Free Press

November 5, 1925    [p. 8]

James T. John Dead

Word was received here last week by relatives telling of the death of James T. John of Everet, Washington.  Mr. John was born and raised south of Bedford, leaving here about 26 years ago for the west.  He had been making his home at Everet for several years where he was employed as a streetcar conductor.  He was injured in a car accident last summer and his death was the outcome of injuries received then.  His wife surviving him will be remembered here as Rosa Newkirk.  Other relatives in this vicinity surviving him are his sisters, Mrs. Silas Keith [Mary Jane John], Mrs. I. B. Coon and Miss Anna John, his brothers Grant and Walter John and a sister, Mrs. America LeFaver of New York State.  There are also many nieces and nephews living in this vicinity.  Mr. John died Monday, October 26th.


[Clara Mae Bailie]

Times-Republican

Thursday    March 11, 1926    [p. 4]

Clara Mae Bailie

Clara Mae Bailie was born in Princeton, Illinois, Sept. 9, 1866, and died at St. Joseph, Mo., on March 7, 1926, at the age of 59 years, 6 months and 2 days.  In 1895 she was united in marriage to Frank W. Bailie and to this union were born four children, all of whom preceded her in death.  She leaves to mourn her death, three brothers, James, Charles and Asa, besides other relatives and a host of friends.  Mrs. Bailie united with the Disciples Church when a small child and later transferred her membership to the Presbyterian Church of which she was a member at the time of her death.

[Mary Ann Hostetler Carmichael]

Times-Republican

May 13, 1926    [p. 6]

Mary Hostetler Carmichael

Mary Ann Hostetler, daughter of John and Magdalene Hostetler, was born in Stark County, Ohio, May 8, 1840, and died May 5th, 1926, at 4:10 p.m., at the home of her son, I. [saac] P. Carmichael, in Hopkins, Mo.  She was married to C. [onstant] J. [oseph] Carmichael, Oct. 18, 1855.  To this union were born nine children, four of whom have preceded her in death, three sons and one daughter.  There are left to mourn her death besides the aged husband, three sons and two daughters, Martha M. Davis, of Lincoln, Neb.; Rachael E. Parks, of Bedford, Iowa; Joseph D., of Houston, Tex.; Jacob S., of Omaha, Nebr., and I. [saac] P., at whose home she died.  She leaves 34 grandchildren and 51 great grandchildren, besides two brothers, Samuel and Cyrus Hostetler, of Braddyville, Ia.  She united with the Primitive Baptist church in 1859 and continued to lead a consecrated life until death.

Funeral services were held at the Baptist church on Friday, May 7, 1926, at 10 a.m., conducted Elder M. E. Young of Indianola, Ia.  Burial was made at Burch cemetery, 2 miles east of Braddyville.

[CARMICHAEL, MARY ANN HOSTETTER]
Bedford Free Press (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, May 13, 1926, p. 8
Mrs. Mary Ann Carmichael Dead
Mrs. Mary Ann Carmichael, 86 years of age, wife of Elder C. [onstant] J. [oseph] Carmichael, of Hopkins, died at 4 o'clock Wednesday, May 5th, at the home of her son, Isaac Carmichael, in Hopkins. She had been an invalid for six years as a result of a paralytic stroke. In the death of Mrs. Carmichael Nodaway county loses one of its oldest residents.

Funeral services were held last Friday morning at the Baptist church in Hopkins. Elder M. E. Young of Indianola, Iowa, had charge of the services and burial was made in the Burch cemetery two miles east of Braddyville.

Mrs. Carmichael was born in Stark County, Ohio, May 8, 1840. She was the daughter of John and Magdalene Hostetter. On October 18, 1855 she was married to Elder Carmichael. Nine children were born to them, five of whom survive, with her husband. They are: Mrs. Martha M. [agdalene] Davis, Lincoln, Neb.; Mrs. Rachael E. [mmaline] Parks, Bedford; Joseph D. Carmichael, Houston, Texas; Jacob Carmichael, Omaha; and Isaac Carmichael, Hopkins. Thirty-four grandchildren and fifty-one great grandchildren also survive, as do two brothers, Cyrus and Samuel Hostetter, both of Braddyville.

Mrs. Carmichael was united with the Primitive Baptist Church in 1859. Since then she has been a loyal church worker. Her husband is still active in church work in spite of the fact that he is past 92 years of age.

Elder and Mrs. Carmichael came to Nodaway County in May 1865, from Green County, Ind. The 600-mile trip was made with a two-horse wagon and twenty-eight days were required for the journey.


[Worth Webb Titus]

Times-Republican

September 16, 1926    [p. 5]

Worth Webb Titus

Worth Webb Titus was born July 19, 1898, in Bedford, Iowa, and died September 10, 1926.  Mr. Titus moved when a young boy with his parents to Clark, S. D., in March 1910.  In Clark he attended the public schools and graduated from high school in 1917 and entered the State University in 1919, and graduated from the law course in 1922.  He practiced law in Clark, S. D., and was a member of the firm of Sherwood & Titus.  At present, he was nominee for States Attorney without any opposition.  Mr. Titus took sick in January of this year and the latter part of April he went to Mayo Brothers hospital, where it was discovered that he had an incurable disease.  He leaves to mourn his death, his father [Ellis Philip Titus] and mother [Etta Webb] in Clark, S. D.; an aged grandmother, Mrs. [Francis] Titus [Lydia Arnold]; a sister Mrs. L. D. Collins [Ruth] of Denver, Colo.; a brother, F. [rancis] P. Titus of San Francisco, Calif., Reid E. Titus who is a student in the University of Denver.  A host of friends will also miss his presence for he had many friends in all ranks and stations of life.  He was affiliated with the Congregational church of Clark, S. D.

[Lydia Arnold Titus]

Times-Republican

November 25, 1926    [p. 7]

Mrs. Lydia Arnold Titus

Mrs. Lydia Arnold Titus was born near Buffalo, New York, on the 21st day of January 1840.  She died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Wm. Kemery [Luvira], in Bedford, Ia., on the 4th day of Nov. 1926, at the age of 86 years, 9 months and 13 days.  In telling the story of her life she says: "My home was a log cabin on a farm where father by hard toil made a living for himself, my mother and six children.  The schoolhouse where I started to school at the age of five was a small one-room log building about ¾ of a mile from our house.  On my way to school lived a kind-hearted old lady who would often come to the door [of] her cabin and call for me to stop.  Then she would fill all my apron pockets with nuts and give me a big red apple or some cookies.  Although it has been over 75 years since this happened, the kind words and pleasant smile of this dear old lady are as real as though the meeting occurred yesterday."  In the year 1847, her mother's health failing, the little home in New York was broken up and the family started out in search of a new place of residence where the mother's health might be restored.  After trying several different locations the family finally settled in Illinois.  Here her schooling was continued and brought to completion after which she became a teacher.  The same year she began teaching she had the remarkable experience and great privilege of hearing Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln in debate at Galesburg, Ill.  She taught school for three years and during the summer of 1859 she met Francis Titus and they were married March 21st the following year.  On a rented farm a few miles from Rio, Ill., they began housekeeping.  Again we will let her speak to us about that home: "My furniture consisted of a set of plain chairs, two wooden bedsteads, a big dry goods box made into a cupboard with a curtain hung in front of it, an old cook stove and a kitchen table.  My dishes, tub, and washboard cost six dollars.  Of course I forgot to buy a rolling pin and in a few days we had company for dinner.  I wanted to make biscuits, but for the life of me I could not think of what to use for a rolling pin.  Finally I thought of an ear of corn, so out I went, found an ear of corn, washed it and rolled out my biscuits.  They were not very smooth but they tasted good just the same.  I made all my bedding and paid for it out of money I had earned teaching school.  Father made me a potato masher and a butter ladle out of hard maple and I have it yet."  And so her story runs, giving us a vivid picture of her early life and experiences.  In 1869 they sold out and moved to Iowa 'where land was cheaper.'  "After 15 days trip overland we reached Bedford, Iowa, then a small town with a few frame buildings and a hand full of small houses."  Here they began life in a new community.  To get lumber for a house they hauled it fifty miles from Afton, Iowa.  To Mr. and Mrs. Titus were born four children, all of whom survive her, except Warren E., who died in infancy.  The living children are Mrs. Julia Opdylke of Billings, Okla., Ellis Phillip Titus, of Clark, S. D., and Mrs. Luvira Kemery of Bedford, Ia.  There are also six grand children, and seven great grandchildren and nine nieces and nephews, one sister, Mrs. W. D. Ashcraft, and a host of friends who mourn because of her departure.  Mr. Titus passed away Nov. 26th, 1917.

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. G. T. Roberts from the home of her daughter, Mrs. Wm. Kemery [Luvira] in Bedford, and her body was laid to rest in the Graceland cemetery, Nov. 9, 1926.  Bruce Mahan, grandson, of Iowa City, Ia.; Frank Mahan, grandson, of St. Louis, Mo.; E. [llis] P. [hillip] Titus of Clark, S. D.; Julia Opdylke, of Billings, Okla., were in attendance at the funeral.