Lester L. O'Dell, son of Clark and Mary O'Dell, was born Sept. 30, 1861, in Mason township, Taylor county, Iowa, and departed this life August 5, 1945, at the age of 83 years, 10 months, and five days. He was one of five children, three boys, and two girls, all of whom have preceded him in death.

When two years old, he moved with his family to the present farm home, where he grew to manhood and followed the occupation of farming.

On March 5, 1890, he was united in marriage to May Fitch. They in turn have lived at the same home until he departed this life. To them were born four children, Bruce F. O'Dell of McPaul, Ia., Mrs. Neva Novinger of Gravity, Mrs. Helen Cummings of Bedford, and Herman H. O'Dell, who resides on the home farm.

He leaves to mourn his passing the aged wife and companion of 55 years, the four children and eleven grandchildren.

Being a pioneer of this community, he watched the county develop from open prairie to its present state, and made every attempt to adjust himself to the ever-changing conditions and times.

His many, many friends are numbered, not so much by the long continuous years of his residence as by the good deeds and kind words he had to offer. He will be greatly missed by his family and his loved ones.

(NEWSPAPER NAME AND ISSUE NOT KNOWN)

Mary O'Dell - Mrs Mary O'Dell of New Market passed away at the home of her son, Warren O'Dell of northwest Bedford, March 8, [1925] at 5:40 a.m. Funeral services are being held today, March 9, at 2 pm at the Baptist Church in New Market. Rev Osburn will officiate, the cortege will leave the O'Dell home at Bedford at 1:15. Interment will be in Memory Cemetery at New Market.

Bedford Times-Republican, Mar 9, 1925

Warren O'Dell was born Feb 22, 1856, in Lake county, Indiana, where East Chicago now stands, and died Jan 5, 1929, at Bedford, Iowa, at the age of 72 years, 10 months, and 14 days. In 1858, at the age of two years, he came by covered wagon with his parents, Mr and Mrs Clark O'Dell, to Taylor county, Iowa, where they homesteaded the farm in Mason township. In 1864, his father traded homesteads with Tom Tucker, thereby becoming owner of the farm where he immediately moved, which has since remained in the family and is now occupied by Lester O'Dell.

In 1862, at the age of six years, he started his education, and was required to walk about three miles to school across prairie, which was marked on by a plowed furrow. At that time, roads were unknown and settlements were frequently miles apart. His schooling was finished in select and normal schools and at the age of seventeen commenced teaching school which profession he followed for the following twelve or thirteen years. During that time, his success was remarkable and his services were greatly sought after, but he responded only to the needs of Taylor county, Iowa, with the exception of a few years which he taught in the states of Colorado and Wyoming.

In the year 1881, one of his students was Edith Hall, who was then seven years old and whom he married in 1921.

He was married Aug 29, 1887, to Dora B. Lindsey, who preceded him in death in 1917. To this union three sons, Wilbur, Lloyd, and Lorrence were born. Until he retired seven years ago he made his home on the farm which he purchased in 1890 adjoining his brother's, where his children grew to maturity.

On Dec 24, 1921, he married Mrs Edith Hopson, shortly after which time he moved to Bedford, Iowa to enjoy the remaining years of his life in absolute contentment retired from active life.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs Edith O'Dell, and two sons, Wilbur of near Gravity and Lorrence of Clarinda the other son, Lloyd having preceded him in death, dying in France in 1918, one sister Annazella Arthaud, of Wheeling, Mo and one brother, Lester of near New Market. His last illness and suffering was intense, but he was always loving and considerate of his family and friends, and greeted all who called with a smile and appreciated their attention greatly.

The end came while he was at home being cared for principally by his wife whose care and kindness pleased him most.

Short funeral services were held at the home Tuesday afternoon at 1:30. Interment was made in Memory Cemetery. Bedford Times-Republican, Jan 10, 1929

Warren Vance O'Dell - Services for Warren Vance O'Dell, 69, Gravity, were held March 14 at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home officiated by Rev Carl Cummings. Burial was at Washington Cemetery, Gravity, Iowa. Military honors were by Gravity American Legion Post No 578. Mr O'Dell died March 11, 1990 at St Joseph's Hospital in Omaha, Neb.

Warren Vance O'Dell, son of Wilbur O'Dell and Maude Barnett O'Dell was born in rural Taylor County northwest of Gravity, Iowa February 7, 1921. He grew to maturity in the farm community where he was born, where he attended the public school and the Oak Hill Church. He was graduated from the Gravity High School.On August 1, 1953 he was united in marriage to Flora Mae Richey and to this union four children were born: Jack, Barbara, Ray and John.

He was engaged in farming as his life's occupation.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Surviving are his four chldren: Jack of Omaha, Neb.; Barbara Johnson of Omaha, Neb.; Ray and his wife Barbara of Gravity and John and his wife Annie of Omaha, neb.; six grandchildren: Jason and Christopher Johnson, Kimberly Brumfield and Tina O'Dell; Ashley and Jeremy O'Dell; a brother Lewis O'Dell of Safford, Az.; other relatives and friends.

He served his country during World War II in the European African Middle Eastern Theatre; he was inducted into the service September 25, 1942 and discharged October 20, 1945.

He will be sadly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Bedford Times-Press, March 1990

Wilbur O'Dell - Funeral services for Wilbur O'Dell, held April 12 at Oak Hill Church, were conducted by Ross Keyt, minister. Mr O'Dell died April 8 [1964] at Greater Community Hospital in Creston at the age of 75 years, eight months and 15 days. Interment was at Washington Cemetery, Gravity, Ia.

Included in the services was the following obituary.

Wilbur L. O'Dell, the eldest son of Warren and Bee Lindsay O'Dell, was born July 24, 1888 in Taylor county, Iowa. He was educated in the Taylor county schools and attended Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa.

He was united in marriage Aug 27, 1919 to Maude Barnett. To this union two sons were born: Vance of Gravity and Lewis of Fort Grant, Arizona.

Other survivors are two daughters-in-law, Flora and Doris; five grandsons and one granddaughter; one brother, Lawrence of Hot Springs, Ark; a stepmother, Edith O'Dell of Des Moines.

He was prceded in death by his father, mother, and one brother, Lloyd, who died in France during World War I.

He spent his entire life in Taylor county, living on the same farm the last 35 years .

He served as a trustee of Oak Hill Church many years and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Those attending from a distance were Lewis and James O'Dell, Fort Grant, Ariz.; Mr and Mrs Lawrence O'Dell, Hot Springs, Ark.; Mr and Mrs Delbert Richey, Mr and Mrs Russell Jerome, and Mr and Mrs Harold Richey, Des Moines.

Bedford Times Press, Apr 1964

J.B. Roberts - Death of J.B. Roberts in Florida. On last Thursday afternoon Mr A.J. Brock received a telegram from E.M. Turner, proprietor of the Elmwood House, at Jacksonville, Florida, stating that Mr J.B. Roberts had departed this life in that city on Wednesday evening, at a quarter past six o'clock, and asking what disposition should be made of the remains. When Mr Roberts left this city a few months ago to seek for health and strength in Florida his last conversation with Mr Brock had provided for the sad possibility that he might never return alive, and in accordance with the instructions then given, Mr Brock replied by telephone to enclose the remains of the deceased in a metalic burial case and forward them to this city. On Monday a reply was received that the instructions given had been complied with, and on yesterday morning all that is mortal of the deceased arrived on the early train. The remains were met at the depot by the friends with a hearse, and taken at once to the residence of Mr Clark O'Dell, in Mason township, where we are informed, the funeral ceremonies will be held after which the body will be interred at the cemetery in Memory.

The deceased was about forty years of age, and was well known and highly esteemed as a prominent and useful citizen and business man of Bedford. He was taken seriously ill about a year ago with consumption, declining slowly yet steadily in health until about six months ago when he undertook a journey to Florida in the hope that he might derive benefit from the change of climate. On his arrival there he seemed to improve, and his letters to his friends were always hopeful and cheerful indicating that he was making a gallant struggle for life and meant to recover. One or two of his letters were written for and have appeared in the REPUBLICAN, and they were of a character to afford grounds for hope for the best. Only a week or two ago he wrote to a friend here that he was feeling better than he had felt for a year; that his cough had almost entirely disappeared and that he expected to be home before long much improved in health. Alas, for the vanity of human expectations! The words scarcely reached the reader for whom they were intended before the wires bring the sad intelligence of the death of him who penned them.

The deceased leaves three orphan children, surviving him, their mother having died some years ago. She now sleeps int he cemetery at Memory and in accordance with what may be regarded as his dying request, his remains will rest by her side. Bedford Times-Republican, Bedford, Iowa, April 6, 1882