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

[Walston, Verle Lewis “Speed”]

Lenox Time Table

Wednesday     October 17, 1979    [p. 1]

Rites For Verle Walston Saturday

Verle L. Walston, 47, died at his home at Sharpsburg Oct. 10, 1979, of apparent smoke inhalation. The funeral was Saturday, Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Presbyterian Church in Sharpsburg, the Rev. Don Fisher officiating.

Donna Cribbs was organist; Mrs. Richard Long and Linda Spring, vocalists. Casket bearers were Richard, Mike and Gary Curphey, Bill Brammer, Wesley Booth and Scott Mains.

Interment was in Platteville Cemetery.

Verle Lewis Walston, son of Thomas Walter Walston and Cora May Weese Walston, was born in Ringgold County near Delphos, Iowa, on April 24, 1932, and departed this life at his home in Sharpsburg, Iowa, on Oct. 10, 1979.

He was 47 years, 6 months and 15 days of age.

He lived most of his life in Taylor County except a few years in Strahan, Iowa. Most of his life was spent in the Sharpsburg Community where he owned and operated the recreation hall for 17 years. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Sharpsburg.

Preceding him in death were his mother and father, two infant sisters, Cora Sue and Pearl Mae, and a brother Donald.

Left to cherish his memory are his sisters and brothers, Hazel Hoover of Coon Rapids; Vane of Bedford; Nina Rice, Stow, Ohio; Elsie Preston, Lenox, Iowa; Gerald of New Ulm, Minn.; Elvin of Kansas City, Mo.; and Marvin of Waverly, Iowa; also four sisters-in-law, Thelma, Janet, Marjorie and Mary Walston and three brothers- in-law, Ralph Hoover, Delbert Rice and Clifford Preston; twenty-three nieces and nephews and numerous other relatives and friends.

Physically handicapped from youth by polio, Verle lived with courage and faith in God and was an inspiration to those who knew and loved him. He will be remembered for his cheerful and pleasant disposition and ready smile.

Verle Walston, better known in the Sharpsburg community as "Speed", will be greatly missed by people of all ages. The young people knew they had a place to go where some one would listen to them and care. They were welcome in his home as well as at his business.

They learned to care and be aware of others through him. They were always looking out for "Speed". If they saw his car and didn't see him sitting in the pool hall, they would run around to the garage to see if he had fallen and needed help.

If they enjoyed a good meal at home and there seemed to be some left over, they would say, "Mom, if you've got any extra, I'll take it down to Speed."

He always enjoyed anything home made.

The Christmas parties he staged for the kids were very special. They really looked forward to them.

The older people in town always had a place to go to sit and visit with each other and with Speed. The cribbage and pitch games helped to fill in the extra hours in a day.

The husbands whose wives worked or were out to a meeting could go to spend some of the lonely hours with him.

The younger couples just starting out in married life and not having much left over for entertainment, could always afford to go to Speed's for a bottle of pop, a pinball game, a game of pool or just watch TV with him.

His passing has left a great void in the lives of the people of this town who knew and loved him.

[Watson, Charlotte Headley]

Blockton News

Thursday      July 9, 1925    [p. 1]

Obituary

Charlotte Headley, daughter of William and Sarah [Craft] Headley, was born at West Mecca, Trumbull County, Ohio, May 11, 1845 and died at her home in Diagonal July 2, 1925, aged 80 years, 1 month and 21 days.

She was united in marriage to Miles [Elbert] Watson March 25, 1869, with whom she lived more than 55 years until the death of Mr. Watson Nov. 4, 1924.

To this union five children wee born, Mrs. C. [harles] B. [urch] Jarvis, [Clara Leora] of Cache, Oklahoma; Dr. E. [lbert] J. [ay] Watson, of Diagonal; Alma D.[ell] Watson, of Blockton; Mrs. A. [rizona] Turnbull [Dora], of Diagonal and a daughter who died in infancy.

Mrs. Watson came to Iowa with her husband in 1870, and has been a resident of Taylor County since that time until 1924, when, following the death of her husband, she moved to Diagonal that she might be near to her children, two of whom reside at that place.

Mrs. Watson united with the Methodist Episcopal church in her girlhood and kept her faith steadfast until the end. She was a member of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society and the Ladies Aid Society, participating in the good work of both of these societies.

[Next paragraph unreadable]

Funeral services were held at the Blockton Methodist church Friday afternoon at 2:30, conducted by J. A. Brownlee, pastor of the church, assisted by the Diagonal Methodist minister, and interment was made in Rose Hill cemetery.

[Watson, Miles Elbert]

Bedford Times-Republican

Thursday      November 13, 1924     p. 5

Obituary—Miles E. Watson

Miles Elbert Watson, son of Dorcas C. [larissa White] and Dr. Henry Watson, was born in Southington, Trumbull County, Ohio, May 7, 1845, and passed away at his home in Blockton Tuesday evening, November 4, 1924, aged 79 years, 5 months and 27 days.

In early manhood he studied medicine for a time under the tutorage of his father, but gave it up in answer to the call of the west. He was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte Headley of Mecca, Trumbull County, Ohio, on March 25, 1869, the marriage being solemnized at Denmark, Ashtabula County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Watson were born in the same county and state and in the same month and year, Mr. Watson being Mrs. Watson's senior by four days.

The next year after his marriage or in 1870, he came to Iowa and settled on a farm, six miles northwest of what is now known as Blockton, which was his home until he retired from the farm and moved to Blockton in 1896. He first worked the Iowa soil with an ox team, and endured the hardships and privations which were the lot of the trailblazers, but held always an unwavering faith in the future of the country, and lived to see it materialize beyond his most sanguine expectations.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson: Mrs. C. [harles] B. [urch] Jarvis [Clara Leora] of Cache, Oklahoma; Dr. E. [lbert] J. [ay] Watson, of Diagonal; Miss Alma D. [ell] Watson of Blockton; Mrs. A. [rizona] Turnbull [Dora] of Diagonal and a daughter who died in infancy. He is also survived by his wife, two sisters, Mrs. Lucy Chapman, of Union Star, Mo., and Mrs. Mary Hatch, of Denver, Colo., and fifteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

In a locality where he has lived for more than a half century, it is superfluous to speak of his rugged honesty, his kindly heart and the high esteem in which he was held by both young and old. Blockton has lost a good citizen, the church a good friend, and the home a good husband and father.

He was converted several years after he came to Taylor County. Such a marked change did this make in his life that he called his family about him, confessed his past waywardness and erected the family altar in the home. He was diligent in teaching his children the Word of God, he himself being a constant reader of the Bible. The songs of Zion found a warm place in his heart and it was the delight of his heart to play these songs on his violin, making a joyful noise unto the Lord. He believed in supporting the church and always had his quarterage ready.

Funeral services were held at the Blockton M. E. church Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock, conducted by Pastor J. A. Brownlee, and were largely attended. Interment was made in Rose Hill cemetery at Blockton.

[Note: The same obituary was printed in the Bedford Free Press, November 13, 1924, page 3.]

[Welton, Benjamin Perry]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     July 27, 1944     p. 3

Obituary - B. P. Welton

Benjamin P. [erry] Welton, a resident of Taylor county for the past five years, died Thursday morning, July 20 at the home of his daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. E. [dgar] O. Murray in Conway, at the age of 93. He had been in poor health for some time.

He was born May 1, 1851 at Peoria, Ill., and spent his early boyhood days there before coming to Iowa. He joined the Baptist church at Maloy, when a young man.

He was married to Anna Eliza Parrish at Peoria, Ill., in 1872 [1873]. To them nine children were born. His wife and three children preceded him in death.

He is survived by four daughters and two sons: Mrs. Edgar Murray and Mrs. Bertha Scroggie of Conway, Mrs. Amy Page of Arickoree, Colo., Mrs. Lettie Alloway of Hebron, Nebr., Allie Welton of Kansas City, Mo., and Pearl Welton of Keenesburg, Colorado.

There are also 25 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren.

The funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Conway at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon, conducted by Rev. C. M. Rowe, pastor of the Methodist church at Clearfield. Burial was in the Platteville cemetery.

__________________

Attend Welton Rites

Relatives from a distance who attended the funeral services for B. P. Welton here Saturday were Ammie Page of Colorado, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Welton, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Clapper and Barbara of Kansas City; Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Page and children, Corning, Mrs. James Alloway of went to Excelsior Springs Sunday Hebron, Nebr.

[Welton, Benjamin Perry]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     July 27, 1944     p. 3

Conway Locals

Mr. and Mrs. Tony Glasmann of Creston were here Saturday to attend the funeral of her grandfather, B. [enjamin] P. [erry] Welton.

[Wertz, Cornelius]

Bedford Times-Republican

Monday     June 21, 1920      p. 3

Obituary

Cornelius Wertz was born June 28, 1845, in Carlyle, Homer [Holmes] County, Ohio, and moved with his parents to Davenport, Iowa, in 1849.

He enlisted in the civil war at the age of 17 and served two years. He came to Taylor county, Iowa, in 1869, and lived in this county practically all the remainder of his life. In 1872 he was married to Miss Jennie Gray. To this union four children were born, as follows: Willie W., who passed away in infancy; O.[ra] E. [dward], now of St. Joseph, Mo.; Ada M. of Lehigh, Iowa, and John J.[esse] of Keota, Colo. Mrs. Wertz passed away Sept. 19, 1901.

Mr. Wertz was again married Nov. 30, 1905, to Mrs. L. [odesca] F. [lorence Cavender] Dougherty and has spent the past fifteen years of his life here in Bedford.

He fell asleep at the home of his son, O. [ra] E. [dward], at St. Joseph, Mo.

Mr. Wertz united with Presbyterian Church in early life and later united with the Baptist church. He remained faithful to his profession until he fell asleep.

Funeral services were held at the Baptist church Saturday morning at 10 o'clock, conducted by E. E. Lowe. Interment at Platteville cemetery, close to the place where Mr. Wertz spent a considerable part of his life.

[Wertz, Eliza Jane “Jennie” Gray]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday     September 26, 1901     p. 8

MRS. WERTZ

Eliza Jane Gray was born December 3, 1849, in Rush County, Indiana, and died at her home in Bedford, Iowa, September 19, 1901. She was married to Cornelius Wertz September 23, 1871. To this union there was born 3 sons and 2 daughters. One died in infancy. Mrs. Minnie Aldrich died March 2, 1898. Edward, John and Ada remain. Mrs. Wertz had typhoid fever and has been prostrated for a long time. During her illness she professed conversion and died in the triumph of Christian faith. All was done that medical skill and care could do to alleviate her suffering, but death came to her release. The funeral service was held at the home September 20 at 10 a. m., Rev. D. W. Griffith officiating. The service consisted simply of song and prayer as she had requested that no funeral sermon be preached. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful. Interment took place at Platteville cemetery.

Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep,

From which none ever wake to weep;

A calm and undisturbed repose

Unbroken by the last of foes.

IN MEMORY OF MOTHER

Mother, thou art gone to rest,

We will not weep for thee;

For thou art now where oft on earth

Thy spirit longed to be.

Mother, thou art gone to rest.

Thy toils and cares are o'er;

And sorrow, pain and suffering now

Shall' ne'er distress thee more.

Mother, thou art gone to rest,

Thy sins are all forgiven;

And saints in light have welcomed

thee

To share the joys of heaven.

Mother, thou art gone to rest,

And this shall be our prayer:

That when we reach our journey's end

 Thy glory we may share.