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Obituaries
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submitted by: Julia Johnson - juliajoh@usc.edu
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Thursday March
31, 1904 [p. 1] Death of W. R. Kemery Word has been received in
Bedford of the death of W. [illiam] R. [iley] Kemery, at Eugene, Oregon, that
took place Wednesday of last week. Mr. Kemery
was born in Jackson Township in 1860, and his many friends will regret
to learn of his death. [KEMERY, WILLIAM RILEY] W. R. Kemery, aged 44 years, a man of family, while in a fit of temporary insanity, entered an adjoining room, and seizing a loaded rifle, blew the top of his head off. His wife, and Mr. Phetteplace, a neighbor, who happened to be visiting the Kemerys at the time, rushed into the room but the unfortunate man was beyond all human aid. A Register reporter, in response to a telephone message, found his way to the home. A knot of neighbors standing in awe-struck silence on the premises, made way and we entered. Three children of the suicide sat huddled together in one chair, the picture of mute] wide-eyed helplessness. Several neighbor women surrounded the chair of the bereft wife and mother, and mingled their tears with hers in silent sympathy. It was a scene well calculated to stir the innermost feelings of the most cynical observer. In the next room lay the suicide, in a pool of blood, with a group of neighbors discussing the tragedy in excited whispers, forming a semi-circle around the body. The deceased during the evening had harbored the delusion that some one was seeking to do him bodily harm. He confided his fears to Mr. Phetteplace that he had a presentiment that an enemy was lurking about the premises. He appeared greatly excited and continued to pace up and down the room, mumbling to himself. Mr. Phetteplace endeavored to reassure him, but to no avail. Finally the demented man made a dash into the next room, and the tragedy immediately followed. Deceased was in good circumstances and had resided in Fairmount about four years. He originally came from Nebraska, and was a blacksmith by profession. He was a member of the Fraternal Tribunes and held an insurance policy in the order to the amount of $500. Coroner's Jury Verdict Coroner King held an inquest over the remains. The verdict was to the effect that deceased came to his death by a gunshot wound self-inflicted. The following jury was empaneled; Chas. Piatt, J. S. Stiles, J. L. Marsh, H. A. Barr, Peter Nye, Emery LaDuke. Mr. Kemery had suffered for some time with recurrent mania, which usually took the form of an expressed fear that enemies were seeking to kill him. The case is a sad one and Mrs. Kemery is receiving the condolences of many friends in her sad hour of extremity.
[KEMERY, WILLIAM RILEY]
[KEMERY, WILLIAM RILEY]
[KEMERY, WILLIAM RILEY] The coroner's jury drawn to inquire into the death of the late Wm. R. Kemery of Fairmount recently, were reconvened last evening to consider evidence tending to the belief that deceased did not suicide but that on the contrary his death was accidental. The evidence was carefully gone over again, including certain marks upon the bedstead, which, it was presumed, according to a new theory, was made by the hammer of the rifle accidentally coming into contact with the wood, thus causing, by accident, deceased's death. It was finally adduced that the marks in nowise corresponded with the course which the bullet took through the ceiling. The outcome of the investigation left the jurors more convinced than ever that deceased suicided, and on this presumption the jurors once more returned a verdict in accordance with their previous findings. [KEMERY, WILLIAM RILEY] |
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Tuesday April 24, 1923 [p.1] Died in Louisiana Word was received here Saturday to the effect that Louis Bailey [sic] [Bailie], aged about 35 years, and formerly a resident of this city had died in that state Saturday last and the remains are expected to arrive in the city today. The deceased was a brother to Mrs. Roy Meikle [Madge Bailie] and Mrs. E. [rnest] G. Hamilton [Maud Bailie] of this place and well known to many of our citizens. Mr. Bailey had been in poor health for some years past and had gone to the southern country in hopes of a change for the betterment, but it seemed of no avail and he passed away as above stated. Funeral arrangements up to the hour of going to press have not as yet been announced. ~~~~~ The Times-Republican Thursday April 26, 1923 [p.1] Death of Louis Bailey Mr. Louis L. [eroy] Bailey [sic] [Bailie], son of Mr. W. [illiam] W. [allace]
and Nancy [Hoover] Bailey [sic] [Bailie],
was born in Jackson Township, Taylor County, Iowa on July 8th, 1880.
On December 16, 1900, he was married to Miss Maude C.
Wier [sic] [Weir]. Two children were
born to them, William and Eugene.
Mr. Bailey with his family lived all his life in Taylor
County until 1916 when with his family he moved to Louisiana. In 1908 he united with the Baptist Church at Forest Grove
Mission and lived in the faith of his Lord and Master. Some years ago
he united with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Bailey has been in poor health for some [time]
and April 20, 1923, he passed away at the hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana. In the very prime of life, age 42 years, he was called
to finish his life work. Besides his wife and two sons, he leaves to mourn their
loss three sisters, Mrs. Maude E. Hamilton of Bedford, Mrs. [Mary] Madge Meikle of Bedford, and Mrs. Blanch B. McCormack of Amarillo, Texas, a grandmother [Mary
Ann Henkle Hoover], and a large
number of relatives The funeral services will be held in the Forest Grove
Church Friday morning at 10:30 o�clock, conducted by the pastor,
Rev. C.W. Fletcher. Interment in Forest Grove
cemetery. |
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Thursday April 30, 1925 [p.12] Ira Graff Thompson Ira Graff Thompson, son of Jonathan
and Nancy Sims Thompson,
was born in Macoupin County, Illinois, February 27, 1851. At the age of two years he came with his parents to
Wapello County, Iowa. In 1866 he moved to Schuyler County, Missouri, and
married Iowa Alice Warder at
Lancaster, Mo., in 1873. They came to Taylor
County in 1883, where they spent the rest of their life, except three
years in Missouri. In the early �90�s
he united with the church at Berea, and later placed his membership at
Bedford, Ia. In 1923 they celebrated their
Golden Wedding. He leaves to mourn his loss,
the widow and eight children, Mrs. Effie Taylor living at Lenox, and the boys, Elmer,
Lester, Troy, Arthur, Walter, living
near Bedford, also Mrs. Bertha Ratliff and Mrs. Flossie Newkirk, living near Bedford. There
are twenty-two grandchildren, also one sister, Mrs. Emma Woodson of Piedmont, S. Dak., and one brother, Guildford
Thompson of Corydon, Iowa. Mr. Thompson has been a great sufferer for years, and
especially the last year. Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday at 2:30 p.m., conducted by Elder Edgar Price. |
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Monday February 23, 1925 [p.3] A message from California states that Neoma] Turner passed away at 5:20 Sunday morning at San Francisco. Her sister, Miss Ella Hoover, has been at her bedside the past three weeks.
The Times-Republican Monday March 16, 1925 [p. 2] The Life Sketch of a Pioneer Neoma A. Hoover, daughter of Benjamin B. [alzar] and Mary A. [nn] [Henkle] Hoover, was born October 9, 1853, in Lee County, Iowa.
When she was an infant her parents moved to Taylor County, Iowa,
where she received her education and grew to womanhood. She was united in marriage to George Thomas
Turner on January 1, 1877. For 3 years they made their home in Jackson Township of
that county, and in the spring of 1880 went to California.
After a short stay in Santa Barbara, they settled in Lake County,
California, first on the Hildebrand ranch and later on the lakeshore of
Clear Lake in Burns Valley where they were well known and respected residents
for a number of years. Mr. Turner passed to
the Great Beyond on Feb. 11, 1916. The following
fall Mrs. Turner went to Lompoc to reside with her sister, Mrs.
Zelda Streeter.
Needing a change of climate in 1924 she went to Modesto to make
her home with her brother, Oswald. Business affairs called
Mrs. Turner back to Lake County where she was taken seriously ill. On the advice of her physician she went to Lane Hospital,
San Francisco, for a critical operation, after which she was taken to
her brother�s home in Modesto, Calif. She passed away Sunday morning, Feb. 22, 1925. Mrs. Turner left a host of friends in Lake County where
she resided for nearly forty years. She was a leader in social and civic activities in
the county, especially at Lower Lake and vicinity.
Mrs. Turner united with the Methodist church at Bedford, Ia., when
a girl of 16 years. There are left to mourn the loss of this dear sister,
three sisters, Mrs. Ophie [Ophelia] Fiester of Washington, D.C., Miss Ella Hoover of Bedford, Ia., and Mrs. Zelda Streeter,
of Lompoc, Calif., two brothers, Oswald Hoover
of Modesto, Calif., and Don Hoover
of Quincy, Ill. She leaves also an aged aunt, Miss [Christine]
Amelia Mix of Berkley, Calif.,
and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. Mrs. Turner was laid to rest beside her husband in Lower Lake Cemetery on Feb. 25, 1925. The funeral services held at the Methodist church of Lower Lake, conducted by Rev. A. Y. Skee, were attended by many old time friends, also a nephew of Mrs. Turner, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Davis of that town. The out-of-town relatives present were Miss Ella Hoover of Bedford, Ia., and Mr. and Mrs. Oswald Hoover [Inez Bristow] of Modesto, Calif. The Times-Republican Monday February 23, 1925 [p.3] A message from California states that Neoma] Turner passed away at 5:20 Sunday morning at San Francisco. Her sister, Miss Ella Hoover, has been at her bedside the past three weeks.
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Thursday March 12, 1925 [p.5] Ronald Thompson, 18, Died Last Friday Ronald Fred Thompson, son of Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Thompson
[Bell Wells], was born July 3rd, 1906, and departed this life
March 6th, 1925, at 1:30p.m., aged 18 years, 8 months and 3 days. He was
a member of the Church of Christ at Eagle, having confessed his faith
in Christ and was buried with him in baptism at the age of 13 years.
He leaves to mourn, his father and mother, three brothers, Paul,
Claude and Doyle, three sisters, Aileen, Naomi,
and Wilma, one sister
having died in infancy. He was held in high
esteem among his many friends where he will be greatly missed among them.
Funeral services were conducted Sunday, March 8, at 2:30 p.m. at the Eagle church south of Bedford, Rev. Williams officiating. Interment was in the New Hope cemetery eight miles south of Bedford. |
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Thursday November 27, 1924 [p. 1] Edgar Hoover Dead Edgar Hoover, highly respected farmer of southeast of town, died last Thursday evening from cancer of the stomach and the funeral services were held last Sunday. ~~ Bedford Free Press Thursday December 4, 1924 [p. 1} Obituary—Edgar D. Hoover Edgar D. [avid] Hoover was born in Jackson Township, Taylor County, Iowa,
Dec. 26, 1863, and died at his home in that township November 20, 1924,
aged 60 years, 10 months and 26 days.
His entire life with the exception of a very few years
was spent in this same community in Taylor county. He was united in marriage to Miss Martha Florence
Davidson, March 31, 1887. To them was born one child, Minnie J. His sickness was not of long duration. He was a man who took an active interest in the affairs
of his community, interesting himself in those things which made for better
conditions of life. His neighbors and acquaintances
have nothing but good to say of him. His wife and daughter, three brothers, Joe [Josiah]
of Bartley, Nebr., Edward B.,
a twin brother of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Clinton D.
of Santa Cruz, Calif., and a sister Leonora
of San Jose, Calif., of his immediate family survive and mourn his departure. There are also Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Davidson of Wichita, Kans., Miss Susie Davidson
of Great Bend, Nebr., W. T. Davidson
of Clarinda, Iowa, who were present at the funeral who unite with their
sister, Mrs. Hoover, in sharing her sorrow in the loss of her husband. Funeral services were conducted from the home Sunday
afternoon by Rev. G. T. Roberts, and burial was made at Bedford cemetery. |
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Thursday October 11, 1923 [p.5] Died This Morning Mrs. B. [enjamin] B. [alsar] Hoover [Mary Ann Henkle]
died at her home south of Bedford this morning, aged more than 90 years.
The obituary will be published in our next issue. Arrangements for the funeral will not be made until they hear from the children in California.
The Times-Republican October 18, 1923 p.3 Obituary Mary Ann Henkle, wife of the late Benj [amin] B. [alsar]
Hoover, passed away at her home in Jackson Township Thursday,
Oct. 11, 1923, at 11:00am. Her birthplace
was near Danville, Vermillion County, Ill., April 2, 1833.
Of a family of 11, she was the youngest and the last to depart
this life. In 1836 her parents [Abraham and Mary Henkle] settled in Lee County, Ia.
In this vicinity she was united in marriage to Benj.
[amin] B. [alsar] Hoover,
March 16, 1851. They together were the early
pioneers of Taylor County, Iowa, settling on a farm in Jackson Township
where they lived from 1854 to 1898 when they retired from active farm
life. After visiting their children in their various homes,
in the fall of 1904 [they] located in Bedford, Ia., where Mr. Hoover passed
away on Feb. 6, 1906. In the early days their home was a place of welcome
to their friends and strangers alike, for they were friends to all passersby. Mrs. Hoover in her home occupied a well-deserved throne,
earned by her thoughtfulness and motherly love. She was the mother of eleven children, five of whom preceded
her to the great beyond. She leaves to mourn
her departure: Mrs. Neoma A. Turner
and Mrs. Zelda Streeter,
Lompoc, Calif., (who were unable to be present during her illness and
death). Those present were Mrs. Ophie [Ophelia] Fiester,
Washington, D.C., Ella Hoover,
Bedford, Ia., Oswald Hoover,
Modesto, Calif., Don Hoover,
Quincy, Ill. She also leaves 12 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren
and one great-great-grandchild. Mrs. Hoover has always been a close Bible student;
during her girlhood days she memorized the New Testament.
At the age of ten she united with the Methodist Church and was
baptized in that faith. She was a keen student
of current events and took a lively interest in all public affairs up
to and within a few weeks of her death. Having
lived almost a century she saw 6 generations. Her span of life included that period in history when
civilization reached the highest point in intellectual and material progress,
and the religious and moral forces have made their greatest progress in
curbing the evil tendencies of mankind. Her cup was filled with life�s sorrows and joys alike. She loved life and while for her it was rich in experience, she was reconciled to lay it down for the richer experiences of that new life upon which she has entered. �No farther seek her merits to disclose, Or draw her frailities from their Dead abode, (There they alike in trembling hope repose) The bosom of her Father, and her God.� |
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Tuesday & Thursday July 3 & 5, 1923 [p.1] Mrs. Thompson�s funeral To-Day Services Are Held at the Home Conducted by Rev. Lumbar of the Presbyterian Church Burial At Fairview The funeral services of the late Mrs. J. [ames] M. [onroe] Thompson were conducted at 10:30 this morning at the home and the body was followed by many to her resting place, in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Thompson was known in the community as one always ready to do the Christian�s part whenever the occasion presented itself. She was quiet and modest in manner; as a neighbor she was kind and obliging; as a mother she was ever ready with a word of prayer when kindliness was shown her. So, we are but voicing the sentiments of all who knew her, when we say that in her departure the community has lost a valuable neighbor, and her many friends and relatives are made to feel the will of Him who bids His people to be ready when death shall come. Obituary Martha M. Hedrick was born in Rush county, Indiana, Nov. 6, 1839
(?). In early life the family emigrated to
Wapello county, Iowa, where her girlhood was spent in a community of pioneers,
of whom her father, John Wesley Hedrick,
was one of the leading men in political and religious affairs. At the close of the Civil War she was united in marriage
to James Monroe Thompson and
shortly thereafter they came further west to Leon, Iowa, where Mr. Thompson
clerked in a general store for a short time; after which, in 1868, they
came overland to Bedford, which has since been her home continuously. Mrs. Thompson was the mother of ten children, eight
of whom survive her: Mrs. J. H. Dickey [Grace] of St. Louis; Mrs. H. [elen] Guthrie of Los Angeles, Calif.; John N. Thompson
of Portland, Ore.; Lawrence H.,
of Indianapolis, Ind.; and S. E.,
Ralph W., Guy, and Mrs. W.C. Richardson
of Bedford. All [of] these except Mrs. Guthrie and John N. Thompson
were present for the funeral. Mrs. Thompson, with her husband, joined the Presbyterian
Church soon after their arrival here and almost to the close of her long
life she was an active worker and leader in that organization.
She was remarkably energetic and active, and throughout her life
she found time to take part in the social and religious activities of
the community, as well as to rear her large family.
She was an active friend of the young people. Mr. Thompson preceded her in death in 1906, since which time she has continued to live in the old home. Her declining years were made comfortable and pleasant by the faithful and loving ministry of her daughter, Mrs. Richardson, who lived with her, and by the thoughtfulness of her other children living nearby. A notable character, a faithful mother and counselor, a friend to many, has gone to the Father�s home and care. May the blessings she brought to those about her be multiplied and passed to others; may the memory of her and her deeds be a blessing and inspiration to these children who remain. The community, the world, is better for such a life. |
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Tuesday May 29, 1923 [p.1] Long Suffering Ended On Saturday morning of last week word was solemnly
passed about the city that Eugene Simpson had passed away, and while this was not entirely
unexpected, it came as a real shock when the final summons were announced. Mr. Simpson had been a patient sufferer for over a
year, with an ailment that has baffled all medical skill.
His disease was termed anemia of the blood where the red blood
turns to mere water with no strength. On three
different occasions, a transfusion of blood was resorted to, his three
children giving of their blood in an effort to restore their father to
health. This seemed to rally him for a spell,
only to sink again, and the end came peacefully Saturday morning about
5:30 o�clock, surrounded by his faithful wife and children. Up until the time of his sudden collapse, over a year
ago, Mr. Simpson was of a robust and healthful nature, industrious and
hard working at all times. After Mr. Simpson
attained his manhood, he took an active interest in politics, and was
a lifelong republican until Theodore Roosevelt launched the Progressive
Party and Mr. Simpson was an ardent admirer of that famous statesman. During his lifetime Mr. Simpson never forsook the farm
on which he was born, about 3 miles southwest of Bedford, and was a veritable
pioneer in the history of Taylor County. Although
a man of set ideas, Mr. Simpson had a host of warm friends, who will sincerely
regret his taking off in the very prime of his life. Funeral services were held Monday at 2:30 o�clock
from the family home, conducted by Rev. M.A. Gable of the M.E. Church
and interment made in Graceland cemetery. Eugene Harlan Simpson was born April 27, 1857, and departed this life
May 26, 1923. He was born and reared on the farm where he died. He united with the M.E. church at Gilead early in life
and was a member except for the short time that he was away from the farm. He was united in marriage to Alice May Salen, Oct. 16, 1885. To
this union five children were born: Ethel May, Florence Ruby, Alpha Irene, Eugene Paul,
and Helen Leone, all of whom had the privilege of helping the mother
care for him during his last illness. Eight grandchildren, seven of whom are still living,
one grandson having died in infancy, complete this family circle. He is the first of his family to receive �The
one clear call� from his Maker. After
almost two years of illness �one came softly through the unopened
door with pierced hand and gently closed his eyes.
So eternal sleep has come to him with surcease from pain, with
peace, and quiet and rest.� |