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

[Crabtree, Joseph]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    July 23, 1903    p. 5

Mr. [Joseph] Crabtree died at his home in Conway on Monday morning of this week.  He was an old soldier and old settler.  Funeral at 2 oÕclock Tuesday afternoon.

[Crabtree, Joseph]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    July 30, 1903    p. 4

Sudden Death

Monday morning our people were shocked to learn of the sudden death of Joseph CrabtreeMr. Crabtree retired Sunday night in the enjoyment of his usual health and at 4 oÕclock a. m. he died of heart failure.  He was about fifty-nine years old.  Funeral services were held at the M. E. church at 2 p. m. Tuesday, conducted by Rev. George Winterbourne.  The burial services were in charge of the G. A. R., of which organization the deceased was an honored member.  The remains were interred in the Conway cemetery.----Conway Journal

[Crabtree, Ernest]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    March 28, 1963    p. 4

Ernest Crabtree Taken In Death

Funeral services for Ernest Crabtree, 78, former Bedford and Conway resident, were held Tuesday in Burlington Junction, Mo.  Christian Church.  Mr. Crabtree died March 22 at the home of a son, Donald, where he had lived one year.  Burial was in Conway.

Mr. Crabtree was born May 5, 1884, at Hawleyville, Ia., the son of the late William Crabtree.  He was married to Lula [Lulu] Melvin, who died in 1918, and in 1935 he married Hazel Hagg, who preceded him in death in 1952.  He had lived in Shenandoah, where he was employed in the nursery industry.

Survivors include three other sons, Daryl Crabtree and Beryl Crabtree, Chicago, Ill., and Thurland Crabtree, Omaha, Nebr.; two daughters, Mrs. Gwendolyn Green, Omaha, Nebr., and Mrs. Rosalyn Woods, Imogene, Ia.; 21 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.

[Yaw, David Leroy ÒLeeÓ]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     September 1, 1955    p. 3

Obituary – Lee Yaw

David Leroy, son of H. [alicke] T. and Lola Williams Yaw, was born in Diagonal, Iowa March 10, 1893 and died at his home in Clearfield Aug. 21, 1955.

He attended school and grew to manhood in Diagonal.

April 4, 1914 he was married to Miss Nora Livingston.  They located in Clearfield and continued to live there.

His parents preceded him in death.

Surviving are his wife, one sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Burch of Creston and a nephew, Garnet Burch and family of Davenport.

Funeral services were held Tuesday in Clearfield at the J. R. Crew Funeral Home with interment in [the] cemetery nearby.

[Yaw, David Leroy ÒLeeÓ]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     September 1, 1955    p. 3

Those from out of town attending funeral services Tuesday of Leroy Yaw were Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Burch, Mr. and Mrs. H. England, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Millard, Mr. and Mrs. H. Schrader of Creston; Mr. and Mrs. Garnet Burch of Davenport; Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Schrodt of Avoca, Iowa; Miss Mable Livingston and Jessie Holman of St. Joseph; Thos. Egan and Dale of Exira; Homer Todd of Mount Ayr; Mr. and Mrs. W. Tindle of Shannon City; Mrs. O. Snodgrass, Mrs. Frank Simpson and Otto Sabotka of Diagonal; Mrs. Nettie Tindle and Beulah of Clearfield.

[Beggs, Susan Kay]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     September 1, 1955    p. 3

Funeral Services for Beggs Infant

Funeral services were held Wednesday at the J. R. Crew Funeral Home for Susan Kay, the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Beggs, who died the day of her birth, Aug. 22, 1955.  The minister Rev. H. Ball officiated.  Surviving are the parents and three sisters.  Burial in Clearfield cemetery.

[Templeton, Edith]

Times-Republican

Thursday    November 7, 1912    p. 5

Edith Templeton

Edith Templeton was born in Taylor County on December 7, 1896, and died at Des Moines Sunday November 3 at 8 oÕclock.  She was taken sick in June and went to the hospital in Des Moines the latter part of August, where she remained until death.  She attended the public schools here for several years and ranked as one of the highest in her class.  Her mother was with her at the time of her death, and with the two brothers, accompanied the remains to Bedford Tuesday afternoon.

Funeral services were held at the Christian church Wednesday, at 2:30 p. m., conducted by Rev. Mart Gary Smith.  Interment was made at Fairview cemetery.

[TEMPLETON, EDITH]
Bedford Free Press (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, November 7, 1912
Miss Edith Templeton – Miss Edith Templeton who was taken to Des Moines for treatment a few weeks ago, died in that city Sunday evening. For a long time she had been in ill health and her mother, Mrs. Wm. J. Steele, accompanied her to Des Moines, as did also her stepfather. It was while returning from there that Mr. Steele fell, receiving the injuries that resulted in his death. Her case baffled the skill of the best Des Moines physicians, however, and she rapidly grew worse until she succumbed at 8 o'clock Sunday evening. The remains were brought to Bedford Tuesday and the funeral was held Wednesday afternoon at the Christian church, conducted by the pastor, Mart Gary Smith. Interment was in Fairview cemetery.
Edith was a girl whose gentle manner and winning ways won her many friends. She was born in Clayton township, this county, December 7, 1896. She leaves her mother, two brothers, Fred and Sanford, and a sister, Mrs. Albert Montgomery, to mourn her death.

[Winning, Susan Freel Simmons]

Times-Republican

Thursday    May 23, 1912    p. 4

Mrs. William Winning

Conway Record: Susan Freel was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, near Lafayette, April 29, 1838, and died at her home in Conway, May 7, 1912, aged 74 years and 3 days, from heart failure.

She was the youngest child of James and Martha [Osborn] Freel, her father died while she was in her infancy and her mother died when she was about 18 years of age.

She came with her brother to Taylor County in 1856 and excepting a short time her home has been in Taylor County.

She was reared in a Christian home, her father being a Methodist minister.  When 20 years of age she united with the Christian church and was an exemplary Christian woman until her death.

She was united in marriage to Robert Simmons February 27, 1861, who with two children preceded her to the better world.

In 1867 she was united in marriage to William Winning, who is left with two daughters, Mrs. R. [euben] L. Blank [Minnie May] of Bedford, and Mrs. William Martin [Rosa], of Conway, and numerous relatives and friends, to mourn her loss.

She and her family have resided in Conway for about twenty years.  She was a great lover of her home and in her long residence here she very seldom came over to town.  She has been in poor health for some time but was able to be about in her home until her heart refused to do its work longer, and she answered the summons to join loved ones in the beyond.

Funeral services were held last Thursday afternoon at 1:30, at the Christian church, conducted by Rev. C. H. Mattox of Bedford and interment was made in the Conway cemetery.

[WINNING, SUSAN FREEL SIMMONS]
Bedford Free Press (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, May 9, 1912
Mrs. Winning, of Conway, mother of Mrs. R. L. Blank, whose serious illness is mentioned elsewhere in this issue, died Tuesday evening. Funeral services will be held at the Christian church of Conway at 1:30 this afternoon, conducted by Elder Mattox.

[Winning, William]

Times-Republican

Thursday    January 31, 1924    [p. 1]

Death of William Winning

William Winning died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Wm. Martin [Rosa] in Bedford at 5:30 p. m., Tuesday, January 29.  Mr. Winning was one of the old settlers of the county, having lived at Conway for many years.  He was a Civil War veteran, and was about 88 years and eleven months of age.  Funeral services were held at the Christian Church here this afternoon at 1:30 oÕclock, in charge of funeral director, A. L. Stithem, of Bedford, and interment was made in the Conway cemetery.  Full obituary will be published next week.

[Blank, Minnie May Winning]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    October 25, 1923     [p. 1]

Mrs. R. L. Blank Died Today

Mrs. R. [euben] L. Blank [Minnie May Winning] of this city died this morning about 11 oÕclock.  She had been in very poor health for several years and within the last year doctors told her that she had tuberculosis.  She put up a plucky fight for her life, but finally succumbed.

[Blank, Minnie May Winning]

Times-Republican

Thursday    October 25, 1923

Mrs. R. L. Blank Dead

Minnie M. [ay] Blank, wife of R. [euben] L. Blank of this city, passed from life at 11:30 oÕclock this morning, after a lingering illness.   Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2:30 at the Christian church, where Mrs. Blank was one of the workers of the church.  Rev. Price of Mt. Ayr, formerly of Bedford, will conduct the funeral.  Burial will be made in the Conway cemetery.  For further particulars concerning the funeral, call the Stithem Funeral Parlor.  Obituary will be published next week.

[Blank, Minnie May Winning]

Times-Republican

Tuesday    October 30, 1923

Laid To Rest At Conway Cemetery

Mrs. R. [euben] L. Blank, who died at 11:00 oÕclock Thursday forenoon, was buried in the cemetery at Conway Sunday afternoon, undertaker Stithem in charge.  The funeral services were held here at 2:30 at the Church of Christ, by Rev. Price of Mt. Ayr, after which the body was taken to Conway.  E. B. Blank, a brother of Mr. Blank, of Creighton, Neb., attended the funeral.

Obituary

Minnie M. [ay] Blank was the daughter of Wm. and Susan [Freel Simmons] Winning.  She was born in Warren County, Iowa, May 16, 1868, and passed away Oct. 25, 1923, at 11:30 oÕclock at her home in Bedford, aged 55 years, 5 months and 9 days.  She was united in marriage to R. [euben] L. Blank, Dec. 14, 1892.  To this union one child was born, which died in infancy.  She united with the Christian church in early girlhood and has been a faithful member ever since.  She leaves to mourn her demise, her husband, an aged father, Wm. Winning and one sister, Mrs. Wm. Martin [Rosa].

 

[McCoy, Guy A.]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    January 28, 1897    p. 3

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. [Lewis] McCoy [Susannah Helm] arrived on the 3:40 passenger Friday afternoon with the remains of their little daughter [son], who died at their home in Cass County on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1897.  The remains were interred in the Titus [Graceland] cemetery.  Mr. and Mrs. McCoy were formerly residents of Mason Township, from which locality they moved to Cass County about one year ago.

[West, Frances O.]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    January 28, 1897    p. 3

Frances [O.] West, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. A. [lonzo] T. West [Emma Oehlmann], died at the home of her parents in Conway, on Jan. 22, 1897, aged 17 years.  Miss Frances had been in poor health for several months, her ailment taking a sudden turn for the worse only two days previous to her death.  She was a bright and winsome young lady and her death is sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends.  The funeral services were conducted at the home at 2:00 oÕclock p. m., Sunday, Jan. 24, by Rev. J. A. Ross, and interment made at the Conway cemetery.  The floral offerings were many,---appropriate emblems of the fair young life that has taken on the celestial form and winged its immortal flight to the realms where sickness, sorrow, pain and death are known no more forever.  The following from Bedford attended the funeral: Mrs. A. J. Williams, Mrs. A. A. Archer; Misses Gracia Williams, Lou McKissick, Birdie Williams; Messrs. John Sawyer, W. A. Geithmac, F. E. Coppel.

 

[Dorr, Laura May Jones]

Taylor County Herald

Thursday    June 22, 1944   [p. 1]

Mrs. W. L. Dorr, 71, Dies; Rites Are Held

Mrs. W. [illiam] L. [eonard] Dorr [Laura May Jones], who had been ill several months, died at her home in Bedford Saturday, June 17, at the age of 71 years, eight months and 15 days.

Funeral services were held from the Wetmore Funeral Home Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. R. C. Yadon, Christian minister of Blockton.  His sermon topic was the 90th Psalm.  Mrs. Yadon and Miss Alyce Ann Florea of Blockton sang, ÒNearer My God to Thee,Ó ÒIn the Upper GardenÓ and ÒDoes Jesus Care.Ó

Pallbearers were Will Muir, Troy Thompson, Tom Leonard, Ben Oxley, and Quincy Hickman.  Interment was made in the mausoleum in Fairview Cemetery.

[Dorr, John Warren]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday   January 19, 1950    p. 4

Obituary – J. W. Dorr

John Warren, son of Leonard and Pamelia [Permelia Ann Osborn] Dorr, was born in Cedar County, Iowa, Dec. 1, 1872, and died at his country home, Jan. 8, 1950 at the age of 77 years, 1 month and 7 days.

When a small boy, he came with his parents and brothers to Taylor County, where he had since made his home.

On Feb. 13, 1898 he was married to Verna Smith and to them were born one daughter and two sons.  The eldest son, David Earl, preceded his father in death, Feb. 21, 1920.

Oct. 29, 1931 Mr. Dorr and Mrs. Maud C. [ornelia Weir] Bailie were married and together have lived the past ten years on their farm north of New Market.

Besides his wife, he leaves to mourn his passing the daughter, Mrs. Cora Mullin of Corning, his youngest son, Harold Dorr of Hopkins; two step-sons, William Bailie of Bedford and Eugene Bailie of New Market; two grandsons, Maurice Mullin of Omaha and Edward Mullin of Corning.  Also two brothers, William L. [eonard] Dorr and Charles A. [lexander] Dorr of Bedford.

In early manhood he united with the Christian church at Berea.  When health failed, he enjoyed the sermons given on the radio.  Through his sickness he was ever patient and considerate of others.

The funeral services were held at the Wetmore Funeral Home Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. G. W. Swan.  Burial in the Fairview cemetery.

[Richardson, William Benjamin]

Taylor County Herald

Thursday    June 22, 1944   [p. 1]

William Benjamin Richardson

William Benjamin Richardson, son of George and Mary Richardson, was born near Sigourney, Iowa, in Keokuk County, Feb. 2, 1862, and passed away at the Municipal Hospital in Clarinda, Iowa, May 26, 1944, at the age of 82 years, three months, and fourteen days.  He was one of a family of 13 children.  He was preceded in death by one son, a brother, Ed, and one grandson, Arvidle.  He came to Taylor County in the year 1881 and was united in marriage to Francis Ann Neville, Oct. 23, 1889 at Bedford, Ia.  To this union were born four children, Mrs. Mac Miller [Iva Mae] of Omaha, Nebr., Mrs. Carrie Young and Carl of Gravity, Ia., and James Carol, deceased in the year 1904.  His early married years were spent on a farm north of Gravity.  Later, he moved to the farm south of Gravity where he has resided for more than 40 years.  He joined the Christian church during the Tabernacle meeting held at Gravity some 39 years ago.  He was very active in church work.  He served both as elder and deacon.  He will be greatly missed.  He was a fine Christian neighbor and a wonderful husband and father.  He was very devoted to his grandchildren and also to his great grandchildren.  He lived a clean uplifting life, and will be mourned by many.  He is survived by his wife, two daughters and one son, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.   His wife and children were at his bedside during all his illness.  All was done that loving hands could do.

Dear father, your suffering has ended, and youÕve now reached a hard earned rest; GodÕs made you a part of his family, and HeÕs always the one who knows best; of course weÕll miss you badly and remember the things youÕve said, but youÕll not want us to feel it sadly so weÕre loving your memory instead.  So rest on in peace, dear father, till we will all be together some day.

Funeral services were held from the Christian church at Gravity May 29, 1944, at 2:00 p. m., conducted by the Rev. C. M. Eppard of Clarinda, Ia.  Interment was in the Gravity cemetery.

[Wildman, John Hemphill]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    January 29, 1948    p. 7

Obituary - John H. Wildman

John Hemphill Wildman, son of William and Irene [Cowell] Wildman, was born October 5, 1869, in Gay Township, Taylor County, Iowa, and died at the home of his sister, Mrs. Pearl Schneider in Bedford, Thursday, January 22, at the age of 78 years, 3 months and 17 days.

On March 1911, he was married to Miss Merle Walker of Grant City, Mo.  He spent most of his life farming in Taylor County, until he moved to Bedford a few years ago.

He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Myrtle Morris and Mrs. Pearl Schneider, both of Bedford; a number of nieces and nephews.

The funeral services were held at the Wetmore Funeral Home, Sunday afternoon, January 25, conducted by Rev. Russell G. Nye.  Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery at Blockton.

[Zeluf, Dorothy Lois Wright]

Taylor County Herald

Thursday    April 27, 1933    [p. 1]

Mrs. Forest Zeluf Dies Unexpectedly

Mrs. Forest Zeluf, 20, was taken suddenly ill Tuesday and died at her home in northeast Bedford Thursday afternoon, April 27, at 4:00 oÕclock.

Mrs. Zeluf, formerly Miss Dorothy [Lois] Wright, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Wright, leaves two small children and her husband to mourn her loss.

[Osburn, William]

Taylor County Herald

Thursday   April 27, 1933

Wm. Osburn Dies Sunday

William Osburn passed away at his home near Bedford Sunday, April 23, at the age of 78 years and 3 months.

Rev. Clark Crowell, pastor of the First Baptist Church, had charge of the funeral services, which were conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 oÕclock at the home.

[White, Clarence Campbell]

Taylor County Herald

Thursday    August 17, 1933    [p. 1]

C. C. White Dies At Home Here Tuesday

C. C. White, 77, died at his home in north Bedford Tuesday, Aug. 15, having been rapidly failing in health for the past two months.

Mr. White was held in highest esteem by those who knew him, and was a friend to all.

Funeral services were held at the Wetmore Funeral Home this afternoon at 2:00 p. m., conducted by Rev. M. R. Talley, pastor of the Methodist church.

Burial was made in the Braddyville, Iowa, cemetery.

Clarence Campbell White

Clarence Campbell White was born in Ohio Aug. 5, 1856.

He was united in marriage to Mary J. [ane Yaple] White Nov. 3, 1881.  To this union two children were born, Mrs. H. [arry] C. [ornelius] Little [Olive], of Bedford and Aden C. [larence] White of Ottumwa, Iowa, both of whom were with their father at his death.

He had two brothers and one sister in Kansas.  There are five grandchildren and one great grandchild to mourn his going.

He was brought up in the United Presbyterian Church and later in life joined the Methodist Church.  He lived a very active life and took the keenest pleasure in the work about his home.  He taught school for thirty terms in Page County and then went into the mercantile business in Braddyville, Iowa, where he had a host of friends.

He and his wife came to Bedford 16 years ago that they might be near their daughter.

[Little, Olive White]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    April 9, 1964    p. 8

Mrs. H. C. Little Services Mar. 31

Funeral services for Mrs. Olive W. [hite] Little, former Bedford resident, were held March 31 at the Dahlstrom Funeral Home in Des Moines.  Mrs. Little died of a heart ailment March 29 at Iowa Lutheran Hospital after a six-month illness.  Burial was at the Braddyville Cemetery, Braddyville, Ia.

Born at College Springs, she married H. [arry] C. [ornelius] Little.  They lived in Bedford for many years and were in the grocery business.  Mr. and Mrs. Little moved to Des Moines 21 years ago.

She was a member of Miller Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Surviving are two sons, Leland H. of Des Moines and George H. of Fort Dodge; three daughters, Mrs. Ruth L. Price, Mrs. Naomi [Olive] Damman, and Mrs. Mary Ellen Steick of Des Moines; a brother, Aden C. [larence] White of North Platte, Nebr.; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

[Hoxworth, John Milton ÒMiltÓ]

Taylor County Herald

Thursday   December 31, 1942    [p. 1]

Former Resident Dies In Nebraska

[John] Milton Hoxworth died at his home in Franklin, Neb., Monday morning following a long illness.

He is survived by his wife, a son James of Franklin, and a daughter, Mrs. Janet Weisenreder, of Broken Bow, Neb.

Funeral services and interment were at Franklin.

The Hoxworths were residents of Bedford a number of years ago when Mr. Hoxworth was manager of the Nold Lumber Company.  He is a brother-in-law to John and Ernest Hamilton of Bedford.

[HOXWORTH, JOHN MILTON "MILT"]
Custer County Chief (Broken Bow, Nebraska), Thursday, January 7, 1943
John Milton Hoxworth – John Milton Hoxworth, son of Samuel C. [lay] and Tabitha A. [nn] Hoxworth, was born near London Mills, Ill., on July 15, 1868, and died December 28, 1942.
When he was five years old he came with his parents to Bedford, Ia., where he grew to manhood.
In 1895 he was married to Jennie Hamilton and to this union were born two children, Mrs. Janet Weisenreder of Anselmo and James at home.
In 1917 he came with his family to Nebraska where he since has lived, first at Chappell, then at Broken Bow and for the last few years at Franklin.
Mr. Hoxworth was engaged in the lumber business most of his life up until the time he moved to Franklin.
He was a member of the Presbyterian church and served his church as an Elder both at Bedford and Broken Bow.
He was a Mason, belonging to Taylor lodge No. 156 A. F. & A. M., Bedford, Ia.
He leaves to mourn his loss, besides his wife and two children, one grandchild, Bryson Weisenreder; two sisters, one at Los Angeles, Calif., and the other at Ft. Morgan, Colo., and one brother, Harry Hoxworth, of Sheridan, Mo., besides many other relatives and friends.
Mr. Hoxworth was a kind, indulgent husband and father, always thinking of the welfare of others.

[Hoxworth, John Milton “Milt”]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    December 31, 1942    [p. 1]

Milt Hoxworth Dies

Milt [John Milton] Hoxworth, former resident of Bedford, died at his home in Franklin, Nebr., Monday morning, December 28, according to a message received here by Mrs. Hoxworth's brother, Ernie Hamilton. Surviving with the widow are their two children, James and Janet.