Dorr, George Perry - George Dorr, brother of Will, John and Charles Dorr of this community, died Nov 8, 1924 at the home of his wife's sister, Mrs Will Murr.

Funeral services at Berea Church, Nov 12, by L.R. Cobb and interment made in the Oxley cemetery.

Mr Dorr formerly a resident of this community, had been living for several years in Oklahoma. His health had been poorly and he recently came here to make his home. He had a stroke of paralysis before coming here and suffered another stroke a few days ago that caused his death.

Following is the obituary as read by Mr Cobb at the funeral: George Perry Dorr, eldest son of Leonard and Parmelia Dorr, was born in Tazwell County, Illinois, April 25, 1861. He passed away at the home of Will Murr south of Bedford Nov 8, 1924. Mrs Murr is a sister of his wife, Mrs Jessie Dorr. He was 65 years, 6 months, and 14 days.

In 1868, he moved with his parents to Cedar county, Iowa and to Taylor county in 1876.

On Jan 11, 1885 he was married to Miss Jessie Oxley. To this union two children were born - Mrs Marie Hickman of Caddoa, Colo, and John of Comanche, Okla. In 1898, they moved to Oklahoma where they made their permanent home. He and his wife came to Bedford to visit friends and relatives just a few days before death claimed him. He leaves to mourn his death, two children, his wife, five grandchildren, an aged father, three brothers and a host of friends.

Drumm, Louisa White - Mrs Daniel Drumm died Monday at her home in Bedford, aged 66 years. Funeral services were held at the residence at 10:30 o'clock Wednesday morning, conducted by Rev Joe W. Goodsell. Interment was in Fairview Cemetery.

Louisa White was born in Knox county, Illinois, September 6, 1847.

She was united in marriage to Daniel Drumm at her parent's home in Illinois, December 24, 1864. Last Christmas Mr and Mrs Drumm and family celebrated their golden wedding. They made their home in Illinois until 1896, when they moved to Eldorado, Butler county, Kan., where they resided two years. From there they moved to Nodaway county, Missouri, and eight years later the family moved to Bedford [Iowa]. Since then they have lived on a farm near this city and during the last six years have lived in Bedford.

There were eight children in this family, Frederick N. died September 15, 1902, and Bertie R. June 5, 1913. The living children are William S. of Frederick, Okla; Edwin R. of Conway [Iowa], Epha M. of Bedford, Mrs Nellie E. Tracy of Maryville, Mo.

Mrs Drumm early became a member of the United Brethren church. When the family moved to Bedford she united with the Methodist Episcopal church of this city. Bedford Free-Press, Bedford, Iowa, Apr 28, 1914

Drumm, Daniel - Daniel Drumm, son of George and Sarah Drumm, was born in Licking county, Ohio, on May 3rd, 1839 and passed away on March 20th, 1919 at the home of his daughter, Mrs L.B. Tracy at Maryville, Mo, aged 79 years, 10 months, and 17 days.

He moved to Knox county, Illinois when only one year old and there made his home for a number of years. On December 24th, 1863 he was united in marriage with Miss Louisa White. Eight children were born to this union, two of whom have passed on Frederick N. dying September 15, 1902 and Bertie R. on June 5, 1913. The remaining six children survive their father - William S. Drumm, of Frederick, Okla, Lewis M. Drumm, of Hamilton, Mo, Emery L. Drumm of Stillwater, Okla, Edwin R. Drumm of Conway, Iowa; Epha M. Drumm and Mrs Nellie Tracy, of Maryville, Mo.

Brother and sister Drumm made their home in Illinois until 1888 when they moved to Eldorado, Kansas. they lived in Kansas two years and from there moved to Hopkins, Mo. Here they made their home for 8 years coming from there to Bedford. This good couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Dec 24th, 1913 and the following April, Mrs Drumm passed on to her great reward. Since that time Mr Drumm and daughter Epha have maintained the home in Bedford until recent months when they went to the home of Mrs Tracy at Maryville.

Brother Drumm early in life became a member of the United Brethren Church. When the family moved to Bedford he united with the Methodist Episcopal church; of which he has remained an earnest exemplary member. Loyal and trustworthy, cheerful and brotherly. He was a good man and true. In the fullness of years he has laid down the burden and is at rest.

The body was brought to Bedford on Saturday and the funeral held at the Methodist Church at 1:30 pm in charge of the parlor, Levi P. Goodwin. Burial in Fairvew. Bedford Free-Press, Bedford, Iowa, Mar 26, 1919

Drennen, Lucy Jane Ray - Lucy Jane Ray daughter of John and Melinda Ann Ray was born near New Market, Iowa, June 22, 1870 and died June 29, 1958 at the age of 88 years and seven days.

She was one of ten children. All the brothers and sisters have preceded her in death as well as her mother and father.

She grew to womanhood in Taylor County where she taught school and later did dress making.

On Nov 29, 1893 she was married to Jarville Drennen. To this union were born two daughters Alta Waive and Meda Marie.

On March 1901 the family moved by covered wagon to a homestead 32 miles south of Woodward, Oklahoma where they lived until the [last?] of 1905 when they returned to Taylor County, Iowa where they remained for many years in and around New Market. She and her husband moved to Brush, Colorado, in October 1936 where she made her home until her death.

She was converted to the Christian faith when 18 years of age and always lived a quiet Christian life. It was always in her mind to live to be acceptable in the sight of God.

Her husband and daughter Meda preceded her in death. She leaves to mourn her passing one daughter Waive, a son in law George Oxford, three granddaughters and 13 great grandchildren as well as other relatives and friends.

She was a loving and devoted wife and mother.

Pallbearers were Ralph DeVoe, Harve Drennen, Guy Drennen, Vanzo Drennen, Clifford Drennen and Neil Combs.

Dale, Margarete A. daughter of Moses B. and Margarete Carter Church, was born Oct 7, 1836, at Stafford, Conn., and entered into rest at the home of her daughter, Mrs W.C. Keith, Bedford, Iowa, Thursday, Feb 15, 1923, aged 86 years, 4 months and 8 days.

When but six months of age she with her parents settled in the portion of Black Hawk Territory later known as Iowa, then a vast wilderness, 86 years ago, and 9 years before the territory became a state. Her father, a minister in the Congregational church had been sent west as a missionary. The location where they first settled is known as Tipton, Iowa.

Aside from the tutorage received from her well educated parents she received instruction in Iowa schools finally receiving special training in what was then known as Cornell University, Mt Vernon, Iowa. In early womanhood she was a school teacher and well did she understand the visissitudes and hardships of the [page torn] was a great reward for her sacrifice and work in this great cause.

In early life she was active in church work and while she held membership until the day of her home going in the Congregational church, she during her life time worked in many other churches. At one time she was a member of the Rebekak lodge.

On account of defective hearing, she of late years has not been active in or attended public services. But her exceptionally bright mind has not been idle for she kept posted on current events thru newspapers and magazines.

She possessed a great memory, often quoting whole poems for her own amusement as well as those about her. Because of a very strong will and constitution her mind seemed clear until the end, although she suffered a stroke of paralysis in June, 1922. She was of happy disposition and always interested in the welfare of others.

Since the death of her husband, July 20, 1898, she has made her home with her daughter, Mrs Keith, where she has received the most care and attentions.

Funeral services were held at the W.C. Keith home Saturday Feb 17 at 3:30 in charge of Elder S.D. Harland and the body tenderly laid to rest in the Hopkins Cemetery. Bedford Free-Press, Bedford, Iowa, March 1923

   “Mrs. Mariah A. Anderson.

Essex, Sept. 13.-[Correspondence of The Journal]- Mariah A. Anderson was born June 24, 1838, in Lincoln County, O., and died Sept. 3, 1904, at the home of her son, W.F. Crosby, in Essex, Ia., aged 66 years 2 months and 10 days. When quite young she moved with her parents to Henry county, Ia., where she grew to womanhood and was married to Nelson D. Crosby, Sept. 10, 1868, making their home in Henry County for some time. Three children blessed this union, as follows: Mrs. Anna Hook and Mrs. Jennie Scott of Grundy Center, Ia., and W.F. Crosby of Essex, Ia.
Mr. Crosby, the husband and father, died Aug. 30, 1874. The family were living at that time in Fort Dodge, Ia. The deceased then returned to her childhood home and remained a widow until the year 1878, on March 3, when she was united in marriage with Sterling Davis. One child, a boy, Otto L. Davis, now of Belgrade, Neb., was born to them. Mr. Davis preceded her to the grave Aug. 23, 1902, at the age of 80 years and a few days.
The subject of this sketch then sold their old farm southeast of Clarinda and visited among her children up to the time of her death. She had been in very good health for a lady of her age up to within the last three months, when her health began to fail. She was in Nebraska at that time, and as her old family physician was here she said she felt like she ought to return here to be treated. Six weeks previous to her death she came to visit her son in Essex, and a physician was consulted. He gave the family no hope from the first, as a cancerous tumor was fast eating he life away. She was able to be up part of the time until on Thursday evening about 5:30 she was taken suddenly worse, and gradually grew weaker until the end came on Saturday morning, Sept. 3. She leaves the four children and several brothers and sisters to mourn the loss of a dear Christian mother and a dutiful sister to go to her reward.

Short services were held at the family home of W.F. Crosby on Monday morning, Sept. 5, and the remains were taken to New Market over the Keokuk and Western railroad, and the funeral held in the Methodist Episcopal church at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Brown of Shambaugh conducting the service, and the remains were laid to rest in the Old Memory cemetery by the side of her husband.

                                 [“We miss thee from our home; dear mother; 

                                       We miss thee from thy place,

                                      A shadow o’er our life is cast. 

                                     We miss the sunshine of thy face,

                                     We miss thy kind and loving hand,

                                       Thy fond and earnest care,

                                      Our home is dark without thee.

                                      We miss thee everywhere.”]” 

submitted by: Bill Crosby - billcrosby@msn.com

[115]Dugan, Lowell Milo, was born March 11, 1923 on the family farm near Gravity, IA, the son of Milo Thomas Elisha Dugan and Theo Leota (Masker) Dugan. Lowell had one sister Leta Maxine. He passed away Wednesday afternoon, April 6, 2005 at the Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center in Bedford at the age of 82 years and 26 days.

Lowell attended Wesley and Cottage Grove Country Schools and the Gravity High School. He farmed with his father until he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps. He served in the 1st Division. 1st Regiment as a machine gunner from 1944-46.

On June 15, 1948 he was united in marriage to Dorothy LaVaughn Diggs in Shenandoah, IA. To this union three daughters were born: Judy Carole, Betty Jane and Connie Ilene.

Lowell lived most of his life on the family farm where he was born, leaving only for his duty in the Marine's and one year when he and Dorothy moved into Gravity. He left the farm in the fall of 2001 when he moved to the Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center. This farm has been in family for over 100 years and was very special to him. Besides farming, Lowell was a mechanic operating Dugan's Repair Shop at his home. Lowell loved the country life and his family. In later years he enjoyed numerous card games at the Gravity Coffee Shop, which on occasion lasted way into the night. He was a member of the Gravity United Methodist Church and the Gravity American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Dorothy LaVaughn in 2003 and sister Maxine Pershin Burgmaier. Lowell is survived by his daughters, Judy Blake and her husband Richard of Gravity, IA; Betty Hughes and her husband Jim of Gravity, IA; Connie Townsend and her husband Ed of Bedford, IA: grandchildren, Jeffrey Blake and wife Shannon, Jim Blake, Joshua Blake, Jason Blake, Lana (Hughes) Davis and her husband Keith, Chad Huhges, Jennifer (Tornholm) Matheny and her husband Lonnie,
Jake Tornholm and Friend Erin and Colton Townsend; great grandchildren, Echo and Milo Blake, Jared and Chelsea Davis and Sierra and Calyn Matheny.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 9, 2005 at Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel in Bedford with Rev. Bill Farrens officiating. Burial was in the Washington Cemetery at Gravity. Memorials were suggested to the Gravity American Legion Post #578. Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel of Bedford was in charge of arrangements.

[116]Dukes, Charles

Funeral Services for Charles Dukes, age 76 of Bedford who died 

Thursday, August 10, 2006 at his home in Bedford were held Monday, 

August 14, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in 

Bedford.  Interment was held in the Fairview Cemetery in Bedford.  In 

lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be directed to the 

following:  Bedford United Methodist Church, Taylor County Museum 

or the American Cancer Society.   Please leave a message of tribute to 

the Dukes family on our web page, www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under 

Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home 

of Bedford.

Charles Dukes, the son of Ora and Chloe Dukes, was born on 

December 27, 1929, at the Dukes farm home near Sheridan, MO.  

Surrounded by his family, he died at home in Bedford on August 10, 

2006.  

Charles attended a rural school in Worth County, MO, graduated from 

high school at Sheridan in 1947, and worked with his father after 

graduation in learning the skills of carpentering.  He was drafted into 

the U.S. Army in January, 1951, and served in Korea until late 1952.

He married Louise Wintermute in January, 1953, and moved to the 

farm east of Bedford where they lived for 42 years.  Charles farmed not 

only to make a living, but because he liked to watch the progress of the 

corn and bean crops from spring planting to harvest.  He liked the 

Sunday evening drives to the South 80 to check on the cattle, and the 

smell of new-mown hay.  He liked the challenge of conserving the soil, 

and the satisfaction of improving his farming efficiency.  He liked 

working with his neighbors, sharing great stories, and good-natured 

teasing.  He was a quiet, unassuming man of few, but inspiring words 

and a great sense of humor.

Between the seasons of planting and harvest on the farm Charles did 

carpentering, including building several homes in Bedford.  He liked 

working with wood whether it was in restoring the Taylor County 

Round Barn, building a scale-model doll house, a rocking horse for a 

grandchild, or the wood case for his next stained glass clock project.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of Bedford, and helped with many 

community projects, including the building of the Red Barn at the 

fairgrounds, helping organize the Fourth of July parades and restoring 

artifacts or mowing the lawn at the Taylor County Museum where he 

was chairman of the board in recent years. He was a member of the 

Bedford Community School Board at the time of reorganization (1959-

1964), served on the Taylor County ASCS committee (1981-1990) and 

was an active member of the Bedford Lions Club.

He was a member of the Brethren Church near Sheridan until 1953 

when he joined the United Methodist Church in Bedford.  He served on 

many church committees over the years and helped with a number of 

building and repair jobs at the church, including the building of the 

United Methodist parsonage.  He lived his faith, loving God, his 

family, and his neighbors as himself. 

Charles loved to travel, and had visited 49 of the 50 states (he missed 

South Carolina.).  He and Louise rode a ship through the Panama 

Canal, landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska, saw the fireworks 

display from a gondola on the Grand Canal in Venice, picnicked in the 

Alps, saw Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard in 

London, attended Mardi Gras festivities in Vera Cruz, Mexico, went 

salmon fishing off the Oregon coast, camped in many parks in the 

United States and  Canada, revisited South Korea and noted the 

amazing transformation from its wartime appearance and walked the 

beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 

They spent seven fun-filled winters in Tucson, AZ.  

 Among his pleasures were holding a new-born grandchild or "great",  

bouncing a squealing toddler on his foot,  playing a game of pool or 

golf with grandchildren,  sharing conversations about the progress of 

the crop or the report of the most recent rains with family and friends; 

these were his great joys. He loved life and lived it to the fullest in spite 

of the limitations posed by the cancer which ravaged his body over the 

last year.  He could have said, "I have fought the good fight, I have 

finished the race, I have kept the faith". (2 Timothy: 7)

Frank Meysman says of Dad, "Great men have some commonalities: 

they are often tall and handsome, they have an all-spotting eye and 

mind.  They are scarce on words, but when they talk they are listened 

to.  But above all, they have CHARACTER.  One of these characters is 

DAD. He felt as comfortable and looked as handsome in his blue 

overalls as in his Sunday suit.  Although no longer alive, he is not dead, 

because you're only dead when they forget.  I'll never forget."

Included in the family who survive him are Louise, his wife for 53 

years, three children and their spouses: David (Pat) Dukes, Bedford;  

Mary Jane (Dr. Terry) Sprague, Audubon, IA;  Martha (Doug) 

Standerwick, Mountain Lake, MN; eight grandchildren: Elaina (James) 

Johnson, Gravity, IA; Troy (Erin ) Dukes, Roland, IA; Katy (Dustin) 

Longfellow, Woodlawn, TN;  Kristen (Jon) Lucas, Rockport, MO;  

Steven Sprague, Whitney, TX;  Justin Sprague, Fort Sam Houston, TX;  

Nathan Dukes, Rachel Dukes, Mountain Lake, MN; eight great 

grandsons: Zachary , Alex and Bradley Johnson, Mason and Quinton 

Dukes, Ethan, Caleb and Ryan Lucas.  Another great grandchild is 

expected next month.  AFS son Frank Meysman (Leen) and their 

children Tom and Ann, Merchtem, Belgium are also a part of the 

surviving family.  Siblings who survive are Harold Dukes (Gerry), 

Lebanon, OR and Glenn (Donna) Dukes, Phoenix, AZ; and Helen 

(George) Guhl, Vallejo, CA. Also surviving are many sisters-in-law, 

brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and friends.  Preceding him in death 

were his parents and two brothers, Lowell Dukes and Wilber Dukes.

May God grant comfort and strength to those who mourn his passing.

[117] Drennen, Anna Belle Pratt - Anna Belle Pratt, daughter of Delbert and Isabelle Pratt, was born at Gaesburg [sic, Galesburg], Ill., August 20, 1876 and died at St Joseph hospital in Omaha, Feb 1 at the age of 79 years, five months, 11 days. At the age of four, she came to Iowa with her parents, where they reared their family near New Market.

In 1910, she united with the Gilliad church, later moving her membership to the Methodist church in New Market, of which she was a member at the time of her death. She was also a member of the Rebekah lodge at New Market.

On July 3, 1894 she was married to Charles V. Drennen of New Market. To them two daughters and three sons were born: Mrs Beulah Hogg of Blockton, Mrs Mildred Kellogg of Vancouver, Wash., Claude Drennen and Guy Drennen of Omaha, Harvey Drennen of Elmo, Mo., all of whom survive. A grandson, Ray Drennen, was raised in the home until the death of his grandfather.

After the death of her husband in 1927, Mrs Drennen went to work at the Mental Health Institute in Clarinda, where she was employed a number of years. Later she went to a Fraternity House in Ames, where she worked until the age of 74. She spent the remaining years with her children.

Surviving with the children are three brothers, Ray, Ralph and Leslie Pratt of New Market; one sister, Mrs Florence Steeves of Bedford; 16 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the Walker Funeral Home in Clarinda Feb 4 with Rev Lester Greenwood and the Rebekah lodge of New Market in charge. Burial in Memory cemetery at New Market.

Bedford Times-Press, Bedford, Iowa, Feb 23, 1956

Daugherty, Lena G. - Lena G. Daugherty, daughter of James H. and Cyrenna A. Daugherty, was born December 25, 1890 near Bedford, Iowa. She died May 18, 1986 at Bayou Manor in Houston, Texas at the age of 95.

She was graduated from Bedford High School and Paxsons College in Fairfield, Iowa with a Bachelor's Degree. After teaching in New Market, Iowa she chose to become a Presbyterian missionary. She sailed in December 1915 to Tokyo, Japan, where she began her career as teacher of English and music that extended 40 years until her retirement in 1955. She was honored with a medal from Emperor Hiroshito for her service to Japanese education at the time of her retirement.

World War II found her in Tokyo at the time of Pearl Harbor and at the time of Doolittle's Raid on Tokyo. She gave herself to social services until she returned home on the Gripsholm exchange ship. She joined the USO in St Louis during wartime but returned to Japan after the war was over. Her life has been filled with service and joy which has been felt by many friends throughout the world.

She is survived by a brother and sister, James L. Daugherty and Louise Craig as well as two nephews, Tom and Jim Kuhn and two nieces, Lavelle King and Jane Olson.

Since retirement she has lived in Houston, Texas as a resident at Bayou Manor. Burial is at Graceland Cemetery with her family.

Memorial services will be July 7 at the Presbyterian Church at 2 pm. The deceased request donations be made to the church in lieu of flowers.

Bedford Times-Press, Bedford, Iowa, June 25, 1986