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[Dawson, Francis Edgar
“Ed”]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday August 26, 1937 p. 8
FRANCIS EDGAR
DAWSON DIES AT HOME
SATURDAY
Francis
Edgar Dawson, 74, died at his home in northwest Bedford Saturday, August
21. He had been a resident of Taylor County for 59 years.
Funeral
services were held at the F. L. Wetmore Funeral Home Tuesday at 2 p.m.
conducted by Rev. W. F. Overhulser, and burial was in the Fairview cemetery.
He
was the son of John and Melinda [Elizabeth Wise] Dawson. He spent his boyhood in Clayton county, moving
at the age of fifteen to a farm west of Hopkins, and from there he moved with
his parents to a farm southwest of Bedford. The rest of his life was spent in
or near Bedford excepting two years when he resided in Arkansas and a year in
Missouri.
He
was married to Isabelle Jobbins March 8, 1891, his wife preceding him in death 15 years. To them were born five
girls: Mrs. Goldie Thrower of
Halifax, North Carolina, Mrs. Eva Still of Greeley, Colo., Mrs. Agnes Brown deceased, Mrs. Frances Stowell of Bedford and Joyce at home.
He is also survived by
one sister, Mrs. Celia Priest of Portland, Oregon, three grandsons, one granddaughter and many other relatives.
Three brothers, William, Charles and Archie and one sister, Mrs. Irena Keith, preceded him in death.
[Dawson, Gertrude
Augusta “Gertie”]
Bedford Free Press
Thursday February 6,
1913 p. 8
Monday
night Miss Gertie Augusta Dawson,
daughter of Wm. Dawson living
southwest of town, died of tuberculosis after a lingering illness of several
months. Funeral services were held at the home yesterday afternoon at 1:30,
conducted by Elder Mart Gary Smith. Interment was at Graceland cemetery.
[Dawson, Gertrude
Augusta “Gertie”]
Bedford
Times-Republican
Thursday February 6, 1913 p. 5
Gertrude A. Dawson.
Gertrude
Augusta Dawson, aged 33 years and
11 days, died at her home Tuesday, of tuberculosis. She was a daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. William Dawson, south of
town. The funeral services were held at the home Wednesday afternoon at 1:30
o'clock, conducted by Mart Gary Smith. Interment was made at the Graceland
cemetery.
[Dawson, Margaret
Helen]
Bedford
Times-Republican
Monday January
24, 1921 [p. 1]
Died
Margret
[Margaret] Helen Dawson, daughter
of [Charles] Ray and Mamie
[Eliza Lantz] Dawson, was born
near Bedford, Iowa, Nov. 19, 1918. Died at the home of her parents near
Bedford, Jan. 20, 1921, aged 2 years, 2 months and one day. Margret [Margaret] had been a sufferer for nearly two years; finally He, who gave to
childhood his benediction, said come, it is enough.
She
leaves to mourn her going, her Father and Mother, one brother Joseph, besides her grandparents and other immediate relatives.
Funeral services were held at the family home, Jan. 22, 1921, at 10 a. m.
conducted by L. R. Cobb. Interment was in the Graceland cemetery.
[DAWSON, MARGARET HELEN]
Blockton News (Blockton, Iowa), Thursday, February 3, 1921
B. M. Lantz and wife were called to Bedford last week by the death of their little two-year-old granddaughter, Helen Dawson.
[Dawson, Joseph K.]
Bedford Free Press
Thursday July 8,
1909 p. 4
Obituary
Joseph
K. Dawson, son of William H.
[enry] and Nancy [Keith] Dawson was born in Taylor County Iowa, January 5, 1886, died at his late home southwest
of Bedford, July 2, 1909, at the age of 23 years, 6 months and 27 days. The
deceased took sick with the sickness which proved fatal in February and for a
greater part of the time since has been confined to his bed. The real cause of
death was that awful plague, consumption, which no doubt has been preying on
his vitals much longer. Everything that loving hands could do was done to save
him but there was to be no remedy save the one from on high and this came with
its summons at an early hour Friday morning and he was waiting and ready to go
and calmly said "Good by old world I am going home'' and the spirit of Joseph
Dawson was to be known no more on
earth but in heaven.
He
leaves two brothers, two sisters and the fond father and mother, besides more
remote relatives to mourn his loss. Their loss is his gain.
This
young man was a model among young men. A boy who was true to his parents and
true to his brothers and sisters. No guile in his heart. No censure upon his
lips hence none ever escaped them. He was a loving son and brother, many times
calling his parents and brothers and sisters to his bed and telling them how
much he loved them. When a young man of his age goes to the trouble to tell his
loved ones how he loved them you may rest assured that there is thoughtfulness
in his makeup. We love but many times we are too late in expressing it to our
loved ones but not so with him. He had no bad habits but was of such a
character that the neighbors felt a personal loss in his departure.
The
funeral took place from the home Saturday at 2 o'clock, attended by a large
audience who met to pay their tribute of respect. Geo. A. Hendrickson of the
Christian church, Bedford, conducted the services, the music was appropriately
rendered by Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Cobb, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Cobb and Mr. Isaac
Coon. Burial at Titus cemetery.
[Dawson, Mamie Eliza
Lantz]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday September
19, 1974 p. 6
Mamie E. Dawson Last Rites Held Final Rites Held September 16
Funeral
services for Mrs. Ray (Mamie E.) Dawson, 80, of Bedford, lifetime Taylor county resident, were held Mon.,
Sept. 16, at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford with Carl Cummings
officiating. Mrs. Dawson died
at her home in Bedford September 13, 1974. Interment was at Graceland Cemetery,
Bedford.
Mamie
E. [liza] Lantz, daughter of Benjamin
[McClellan] and Mary Virginia Barrett Lantz, was born in Worth County, Missouri, March 23, 1894.
She
grew to adulthood in the community where she was born where she was active in
school, church and community activities.
She
was united in marriage to [Charles] Ray Dawson at Maryville,
Missouri, February 16, 1916. Four children were born to bless their home. They
lived on the farm southwest of Bedford until she moved to her present home in
Bedford where she has since continued to reside.
Preceding
her in death were her parents, her husband, Ray, who died July 6, 1955, a daughter, Margaret
Helen, who died at the age of two
years, a sister Susie C. Bownes and three brothers, Floyd, Dan and Leo who died in their early
childhood.
Left
to cherish her memory are her son, Joseph B. Dawson and his wife, Melba [New], of Bedford; two daughters: Mable Rose and her husband, Wm G. Steigleder of Arvada, Colorado, and Mary Louise and her husband, [Walter] Lee Walters of Red Oak, Ia.; eight grandchildren: Robert Neil Dawson, Judy
Ann Sederburg, Ricky Joe
Dawson, Robert Steigleder, Vickie Dye, Steven Steigleder, James L. Walters and Janet Maynes; ten great grandchildren; one sister, Elva
Edna Hibbs; two brothers; Guy
and Lester Lantz all of Sheridan,
Mo.; nieces; nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Early
in her youth she became a member of the Christian Church. She was a kind and
considerate wife, mother, grandmother, sister and neighbor and she will be
sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.
[Dawson, Melinda
Elizabeth Wise]
Bedford Free Press
Thursday January 31,
1924 [p.
1]
Mrs. Lizzie Dawson Dead
Mrs.
Lizzie Dawson, mother of Ed [Francis
Edgar] Dawson of this city and
one of the oldest residents of the community, died last evening at the home of
her son Ed, aged 90 years.
Infirmities of old age are given as the cause of death.
The
funeral will be held tomorrow (Friday) morning at 10:30 o’clock at the Church
of Christ, conducted by Elder Edgar Price, and interment will be in Graceland
cemetery west of town by the side of her husband who preceded her in death a
number of years ago.
[Dawson, Nancy Keith]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday January
27, 1944 [p. 1]
Mrs. Nancy Dawson Dies Here Monday
Mrs.
Nancy [Keith] Dawson, 86, died at
the Armstrong Nursing Home in Bedford Monday, January 24.
The
funeral services were held at the Wetmore Funeral Home at 2 o’clock this
afternoon, conducted by Rev. P. H. Peterson. Burial was in the Graceland
cemetery.
Obituary
will be published next week.
[Dawson, William
Henry]
Bedford
Times-Republican
Thursday March 3,
1927 [p. 1]
William Dawson Died Last Sunday
Funeral Held at Home
Here on Tuesday
Wm.
H. [enry] Dawson, old time
resident of this city, passed away at his home here on Sunday afternoon. Mr.
Dawson was 73 years of age at the
time of his death.
Funeral
services were held on Tuesday. The obituary will be published next week.
[Dawson, William
Henry]
Bedford
Times-Republican
Thursday March 10,
1927 p. 7
William H. Dawson
William
H. [enry] Dawson, son of John
and Melinda [Elizabeth Wise] Dawson,
was born Dec. 25, 1853, in Cedar county, Iowa, and died Feb. 27, 1927, at 1:20
o'clock, aged 73 years, 2 months and 1 day. Mr. Dawson moved with his parents from Cedar County to
Clinton County, Ia. In Clinton County Mr. Dawson was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Keith on June 24th, 1877. From there they moved to
Hopkins, Mo., and there resided three years. Next they moved to Clyde, Mo., and
lived three years, and from thence they moved to Bedford, Taylor County, Ia.,
and have made this their home since 1883. Three boys and two girls were born
into the Dawson home. John, Joe, and [Charles] Ray Dawson, Mrs. Mary
[Elizabeth] Goforth and Gertie
Dawson. Gertie Dawson and Joseph preceded their father to the great eternity. His
father and mother, one sister Irena [Sophia] and one brother Charley
Dawson preceded him in death. He
leaves to mourn his death besides his immediate family, one brother Edd Dawson, and a sister Mrs. Cecil Priest. Wm. H. [enry]
Dawson united with the Church of
Christ during the Martin and Eastin meetings.
Funeral
services were held in the home and the interment was in Graceland cemetery.
Rev. Fred Coley, minister of the local Church of Christ, officiated.
[Dowlin, Clifford]
Bedford Free Press
Thursday March 9,
1899 [p.
1]
Resting In Peace
Saturday
evening, March 4, at 10 o'clock, an angel of light and life with the swiftness
of thought caught up the immortal spirit of little Clifford, the three year old son of W. [illiam] C.
[rawford] Dowlin and wife [Hannah
Vandyke Fowler], five miles west
of Bedford, and took it into the presence of the redeemed that surround the
throne of God, there to sing and praise His name forevermore. The services were
conducted by Elder Walters, after which the tenement of clay was laid away in
the Titus cemetery.
[Hamilton, Alice May
Garner]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday October 3, 1974 p. 10
Last Rites Held
September 25 for Alice Hamilton
Funeral
services for Mrs. James F. (Alice May) Hamilton, 82, of Bedford, held September 25 at the United
Methodist Church in Bedford, were conducted by Carl Cummings. Mrs. Hamilton died at St. Francis Hospital in Maryville, Mo.
September 22, 1974. Interment was at Graceland Cemetery, rural Bedford.
Alice
May Garner, daughter of Charles
A. [lvarado] and Anna Lee Buttermore Garner, was born September 2, 1892, at Superior, Nebraska.
On
February 7, 1912, she was united in marriage to James F. [ranklin] Hamilton at the home of her parents west of Bedford, Iowa,
and they began their married life on the Miller farm six miles west of Bedford
and five years later they moved to Yuma, Colorado, where they farmed until they
returned to the Bedford area in 1930 where they farmed until they moved in to
Bedford.
Her
husband passed away April 17, 1970, following more than 58 years of married
life together. She has since continued to reside in Bedford.
Two
sons and two daughters were born to bless this home and they consider they were
most fortunate to have been born to these parents, they are: Howard
F.[ranklin] Hamilton of Yuma,
Arizona, R. [obert] Leland Hamilton of St. Louis, Missouri, Mrs. Neil (Virginia) Satterlee of Seattle, Washington, and Mrs. Kenneth
(Doris Jean) Parsons of Gunnison,
Colo.
Left
to cherish her memory in addition to the four children are ten grandchildren
and 12 great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Clyde (Maude) Cavender of Hollywood, California, and Mrs. Robert
(Florence) Hamilton of Clarinda,
Iowa; one brother, Ray Garner,
of Bedford; other relatives and many friends.
She
was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters; Mrs. Blanche Stearns and Mrs. Grace Briggs.
When
a young girl she was active in the Morning Star Church, a community church
located west of Bedford, and when they moved from Colorado to Iowa in 1930 she
placed her membership in the Bedford Methodist Church.
During
these past few weeks her life gradually ebbed away, but she never gave up
planning things for the future. The past two years she had traveled and visited
in the homes of her four children and it was an enjoyable time for her although
she realized that she would not be able to make these trips again.
Her
life had been filled with many days of hard but enjoyable work. She had carried
her share of heartaches and sorrow but she never forgot service to her church
and to mankind. Her life was a standard of Christian living and she was happy
in sharing this with others. Her love for beautiful flowers was the greatest
when she could share the ones she raised with friends and shut-ins, which
revealed the beauty of her own life.
In
addition to being a devoted wife, mother, sister and friend, she will long be
remembered by her many acts and deeds of kindness.
[Harkless, Martha
Belle “Mattie” Ginn Dugan]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday January 31,
1957 p. 4
Mrs. Jay Harkless
Dies At Clarinda
Funeral
services were held in Clarinda Monday for Mrs. Mattie Harkless, 75, who died at Municipal Hospital Friday after
a brief illness.
Mrs.
Harkless [Martha Belle Ginn
Dugan] was born near Conway and
had been a Clarinda resident 25 years.
Surviving
are her husband, [Henry] Jay Harkless; a daughter, Mrs. Ruth Erie, Denver, Colo.; a brother, Grover Dunn, Conway, three sisters, Mrs. Grace Beckett of Gravity, Mrs. Bonnie Wilson of Arcata, Calif., Mrs. Ethus Parsons of Hiawatha, Kans.
The
services were at the Walker Funeral Home with Rev. Lester Greenwood
officiating. Interment was in Graceland cemetery near Bedford.
[HARKLESS, MARTHA BELLE “MATTIE” GINN DUGAN]
Clarinda Herald-Journal, Monday, January 28, 1957, p. 6
Rites Monday For Mrs Jay Harkless
25-Year Resident of Clarinda
Died at Hospital Here Friday
Funeral services were held here this Monday for Mrs. Mattie
Harkless, 75, who died at the Municipal Hospital Friday at 8 a m after a brief illness.
Mrs Harkless was born near Conway. She had been a Clarinda
resident for 25 years, the current home located at 201 W Washington St.
Surviving are her husband, [Henry] Jay Harkless; a daughter,
Mrs Ruth Erie of Denver, Colo, a brother, Grover Ginn of Conway; and three
sisters, Mrs. Grace Beckett of Gravity, Mrs. Bonnie Wilson of Arcata, Calif.
and Mrs Ethus Parsons of Hiawatha, Kans.
The services were at the Walker Funeral Home with the Rev
Lester Greenwood officiating. Interment was in the Graceland Cemetery near
Bedford.
[Kiskadon, Samuel]
Bedford Free Press
Tuesday January 2,
1917 [p. 1]
SAMUEL KISKADON DIED IN MARYVille SATURDAY
Samuel
Kiskadon died at his home in
Maryville Saturday [December 30, 1916]84. The funeral services were held there
Monday morning and the remains sent to Bedford on the noon train. Short
services were held at the grave conducted by Elder Lee H. Barnum. Interment was
made in the Graceland cemetery.
Samuel
Kiskadon was born in Columbia
County, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1845, and died at the age of 71 years and 19
days. His first wife died in 1886. In 1894 he was married to Emma Patterson, who survives. He is also survived by seven
children. They are: Mrs. C. U. Sherley, Mrs. William Gibb, Harold, Edna,
Stella, Roy and Marguerite Kiskadon at home.
[Kiskadon, William B.]
Bedford Free Press
Thursday March 19,
1908 p. 4
Another Infant Gone
The
death of William B. the infant
son of Mr. and Mrs. S. [amuel] Kiskadon occurred at their home west of town on Sunday, the 15th of March,
after two or three days of illness called pneumonia. All that love and medical
skill could do was done but to no avail and God touched him with the wand of
rest and his sufferings were over. This babe was born March 13, 1907, being
just a few days over one year old at the time of death. Only a little while and
yet it had put its impress on the very lives of the entire family to remain
there till they too shall pass the same way. They put great dependence in the
little one but as is many times the case all our plans and cherished ideals are
dashed to the ground and we left to wonder in the presence of death. This
little one was in the home but a short time but long enough to teach lessons of
lasting importance. The little buds of possibility come into our homes for a
few days but when they have gone leave a poem of regret in our hearts. The poet
puts the thought aptly when he says:
"The days of our darling were few,
An angel's morning visit
That came and vanished with the dew,
'Twas here, ‘Tis gone, where is it?
I cannot tell to what sweet dell;
The angels may have borne him,
But this I know that thou can'st go
Where my heart will fail to find
thee ."
There
comes a time in our lives when all the sympathy we can possibly receive from
friend and neighbors will not suffice. The bereaved ones had the kindly
ministrations of neighbors but it did not satisfy the longings of the
heart—only Him who said, "Suffer the little ones to come unto me and
forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven" can truly sympathize
with them in this great bereavement. May the God of all comfort be their stay
in this hour.
[Kiskadon, William B.]
Bedford
Times-Republican
Thursday March 19, 1908 [p. 1]
With the Angels
A sad death occurred in
the country west of town Sunday in the death of William B., son of Mr. and Mrs. S. [amuel] Kiskadon, of pneumonia. The little one was sick but two or
three days seriously when death came to release it from its pain and disease.
It was born in March 1907, and died March 15, 1908, being but a few days over
one year old. The hearts of the entire family were sore, for they placed great
stress upon this little one and were reaping much enjoyment from its presence
in the home; but, as has always been, death changes all plans and thwarts all
our cherished ideals. This little one was never a strong child, but exceedingly
bright, and had it lived would have brightened the home and brought joy, no
doubt, to the hearts of the family. The little buds of possibility come into
our homes for a few days and pass away, leaving a pang of regret in our hearts.
The poet put the thought aptly when he said:
"The days of our darling one were few
An angel's morning visit
That came and vanished with the dew;
'Twas here. 'Tis gone. Where is it?
I canst not tell to what sweet dell
The angels may have borne thee;
But this I know that thou canst dwell
Where my heart will fail to find thee."
The
funeral of the little one was held from the residence on Tuesday conducted by
Geo. A. Hendrickson, of the Christian church of Bedford. The music was by a
company of the friends and neighbors who rendered appropriate music. After the
services at the home the little one was laid to rest in the Titus burying
ground. The bereaved ones have the sympathy of a host of friends and neighbors
but there comes a time in our lives when human sympathy fails; and if we do not
lean on Him who can save, then we are of men most miserable. We commend them to
the care of Him who said, "Suffer the little ones to come unto Me, and
forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." —H.
[Miller, Jessie
Margaret]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday November 2,
1961 [p.
1]
Jessie Miller, 97 Dies Here Mon.
Miss
Jessie M. [argaret] Miller, 97,
pioneer resident and long time school teacher in Taylor county, died at her
home here last Monday afternoon.
Funeral
services were held yesterday (Wed.) at 2:00 p.m. at the Madison St.
Shum-Novinger Funeral Home with Rev. Anthony Blankers officiating. Burial was
in Graceland cemetery.
Miss
Miller was the last of six
brothers and sisters. Her sister, Mary Frances, died here June 14, 1956.
[Miller, Jessie
Margaret]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday November 9, 1961 p. 4
Final Rites For Jessie
Miller
Services
for Miss Jessie M. [argaret] Miller were held November 1 at the Shum-Novinger Funeral Home, Bedford, with Rev.
Anthony Blankers officiating. Burial was in Graceland cemetery.
Jessie
Margaret Miller, daughter of James
and Margaret Meredith Miller, was
born on a farm west of Bedford on July 17, 1864 and died at her home in Bedford
on October 30, 1961 at the age of 97 years, three months and thirteen days.
Educated
in Taylor county schools of her day, she spent many years in teaching in the
rural schools, and in the schools in New Market, and in Bedford. She loved
children, and her teaching was a marked success.
Early
in life, she became a member of the Morning Star Presbyterian Church, which at
that time had a place of worship on land donated by her father. She later
became affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in Bedford, where she was a
member at the time of her death. While she was able, she was active in the work
of the Church, taught in the Sunday school, and gave expression of her
wonderful faith in God to her friends and associates by words and by deeds. She
read her Bible daily, knew its contents, and prayerfully tried to live
according to its teachings.
Miss
Jessie Miller had two sisters and
three brothers, all of whom preceded her in death. No immediate relatives
survive. Mr. Clarence Meredith,
Bedford, is a cousin. Miss Margaret Meredith, a cousin, of Independence, Mo., attended the
services.
[Miller, Kate F. M.]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday August 11,
1938 [p. 1]
Miss Kate Miller Dies Thursday Eve
Miss
Kate M. Miller, a resident of
Taylor county all of her life, died at the family home in Bedford Thursday
evening, August 4.
The
funeral services were held at the home Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev.
Stanley Schlick. Burial was in the Graceland cemetery.
Miss
Miller was born in Mason
Township, Dec. 3, 1861. She is survived by two sisters and a brother, Miss
Jessie [Margaret] Miller, Miss [Mary] Frances Miller, and William A. [rchibald] Miller, all of Bedford. She was a member of the
Presbyterian Church for many years, having united with the church at the old
Morning Star church, west of Bedford.
[Miller, Margaret Grey
Meredith]
Bedford Free Press
Thursday January 11, 1912 p.
4
Obituary.
Margaret
Grey Meredith was born in Bourbon
County, Ky., February 22, 1827. At the age of six, with her mother and three
brothers, she went to Rush County, Ind., and settled in the big woods near
Rushville. A farm was cleared of its timber after much hard labor and here her
girlhood days were spent.
She
was married January 4, 1855 to James Miller. The following year they started overland toward
the new west. Traveling was slow and difficult and they had the misfortune to
lose their team of horses while enroute for Iowa. Procuring an ox team they
pressed on westward and came to Albia, Iowa and spent the winter. In the summer
of 1857, with their ox team, they came to Taylor county, and pre-empted land
six miles west of Bedford. Their first house was a sod and slab shanty but in
the course of time, Mr. Miller erected with his own hands a farmhouse, which for a long time was the only one
of the kind in that immediate neighborhood. Mr. Miller taught school a number of terms walking a goodly
distance each day in order to help his finances while getting a start in the
new country. At this time there was nothing much to see excepting a broad
expanse of prairie on all sides.
As
a pioneer, Mrs. Miller saw
some of the hardships of life both in Kentucky, Indiana and Iowa, all of which
was new territory at the time she lived in these states. Yet all the while she
cultivated the true spirit of kindness ard hospitality and her home was a great
center, which many sought because there they were made to feel at home. Here
the ministers of all denominations often stopped as they went about because
they were always sure of a resting place and a welcome whenever their duties
brought them into the neighborhood.
She
united with the church in early life at Rushville, Ind. and later in 1859
became one of the charter members of the organization which became the Bedford
Presbyterian church. She is the last one of that original band to pass away as
she is also the last of her family. She was the mother of six children, three
sons and three daughters. One son died in infancy. Her husband died August 27,
1895. She remained upon the same farm 52 years and came to Bedford in 1909,
where she then made her home. After a lingering illness of 16 weeks, she passed
away January 5, 1912, aged 84 years, 10 months and 13 days. With great patience
and fortitude she awaited the end.
The
funeral was held at her late home January 7, 1912 at 1:30 p. m. The service was
conducted by Rev. J. A. Currie, assisted by Rev. W. B. Thompson. The body was
laid to rest in the Titus cemetery beside that of her husband who passed on
before. C
[Miller, Margaret Grey
Meredith]
Bedford
Times-Republican
Thursday January 11,
1912 p. 4
Obituary
Mrs. Margaret
Miller.
Mrs.
Margaret Miller died Friday at her home after an illness of about four months.
She was nearly 86 years of age. Funeral services were held at the residence
Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock, conducted by Rev. J. A. Currie, assisted by
Rev. W. B. Thompson. Interment was in Titus cemetery by the side of the remains
of her husband, James Miller.
Margaret
Grey Meredith was born in Bourbon
County, Ky., February 22, 1827. At the age of six, with her mother and three
brothers, she went to Rush County, Ind., and settled in the big woods near
Rushville. A farm was cleared of its timber after much hard labor and here her
girlhood days were spent.
She
was married January 4, 1855 to James Miller. The following year they started overland toward
the new west. Traveling was slow and difficult and they had the misfortune to
lose their team of horses while enroute for Iowa. Procuring an ox team they
pressed on westward and came to Albia, Iowa and spent the winter. In the summer
of 1857, with their ox team, they came to Taylor county, and pre-empted land
six miles west of Bedford. Their first house was a sod and slab shanty but in
the course of time, Mr. Miller erected with his own hands a farmhouse, which for a long time was the only one
of the kind in that immediate neighborhood. Mr. Miller taught school a number of terms walking a goodly
distance each day in order to help his finances while getting a start in the
new country. At this time there was nothing much to see excepting a broad
expanse of prairie on all sides.
As
a pioneer, Mrs. Miller saw
some of the hardships of life both in Kentucky, Indiana and Iowa, all of which
was new territory at the time she lived in these states. Yet all the while she
cultivated the true spirit of kindness ard hospitality and her home was a great
center, which many sought because there they were made to feel at home. Here
the ministers of all denominations often stopped as they went about because
they were always sure of a resting place and a welcome whenever their duties
brought them into the neighborhood. She united with the church in early life at
Rushville, Ind. and later in 1859 became one of the charter members of the
organization which became the Bedford Presbyterian church. She is the last one
of that original band to pass away as she is also the last of her family. She
was the mother of six children, three sons and three daughters. One son died in
infancy. Her husband died August 27, 1895. She remained upon the same farm 52
years and came to Bedford in 1909, where she then made her home.
Surviving
are two sons, John T. [homas] Miller and William [Archibald] Miller, and three daughters, [Mary] Frances Miller, Kate Miller and Jessie [Margaret] Miller.
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