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

[Thomas Noroway Smalley]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    October 25, 1923    [p. 1]

Tom Smalley Died Tuesday.

Tom Smalley of south of town died at the hospital in Maryville last Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock.  The funeral will be held at the Christian Church here tomorrow (Friday) afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in charge of Elder Leslie Cobb and burial made in the Fairview Cemetery.

Mr. Smalley was about 64 years of age at the time of his death.  He had been ailing some the past year with enlarged glands and was taken to the hospital at Maryville about ten days ago for an operation.  The doctors there would not operate until he was in better condition so treated him for a few days.  An operation was performed last Monday morning and death came the Tuesday afternoon following.

He leaves to mourn his going, his wife [Laura Belle Edwards] and daughter Rena Smalley and a son, George Smalley, who lives at Haigler, Nebraska.

[Thomas Noroway Smalley]

Times-Republican

Thursday    October 25, 1923    [p. 5]

T. N. Smalley Passes Away

T. [homas] N. [oroway] Smalley, who lives one-half mile south of Bedford, died in the Maryville hospital Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 23, at 3 o'clock.  Mr. Smalley was taken to Maryville on the night of Oct. 16.  A minor operation was performed and strong hopes for his speedy recovery were held by the family and friends who were with him.  Later they decided to make a more serious operation.  They operated the second time on Monday afternoon, Oct. 22, after which he did not fully regain consciousness and death came the following afternoon.  About 3:30 Undertaker Stithem was called and he made the trip to Maryville overland in his hearse and brought the remains to the family home.  The news of Mr. Smalley's death cast a gloom over the entire community.

In the death of Mr. Smalley we lose one of our best citizens and our sympathy is extended to the family in the loss of their dear one.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Christian church in Bedford on Friday, Oct. 26, at 2:30 p.m.  The funeral cortege will leave the family home one-half mile south of Bedford at 2:10 o'clock.

The services will be conducted by L. R. Cobb and the body will be laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery.

We will give the obituary in our next issue.


[Laura Belle Edwards Smalley]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    February 14, 1924    [p. 8]

Mrs. Tom Smalley died at the home of her sister, Mrs. Widner in north Bedford last Sunday afternoon after an illness of a week from pneumonia.  Her husband died a few months ago and she had been in poor health since then.  About the time she contracted pneumonia she had been feeling better than she had for some time but she was unable to withstand the attack of this malady.

The funeral was held at the Church of Christ last Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock and interment made in Fairview Cemetery.  Rev. Price conducted the services and A. L. Stithem was the undertaker.  Following is the obituary as read by the minister:

Laura Belle Edwards, daughter of Thomas and Henrietta [Hollingsworth] Edwards, was born in Wayne County, Iowa, March 7, 1867, and departed this life Feb. 10, 1924, at the home of her sister, Mrs. L. [ytle] C. Widner [Syrena Jane] in north Bedford at the age of 56 years, 11 months and 3 days.  At the age of 15 she came to Taylor County with her parents, sisters and brothers where she made her home for a few years.  On April 19, 1885, she was united in marriage to Thomas N. Smalley, who preceded her, going on October 23, 1923.  Two children were born to this union, George Thomas, and Rena, both of whom were at the bedside when the end came.  Besides the children she leaves to mourn a daughter-in-law, six grand children, her father, T. [homas] C. Edwards, and a sister, Mrs. L. [ytle] C. Widner [Syrena Jane], both of Bedford, and three brothers, W. H. Edwards of Amherst, Nebr.; J. F. Edwards of Atwood, Kansas and T. J. Edwards of Brush, Colo.  The greater part of her life had been spent in the west and while there she united with the Church of God to which faith she remained true until the last.  Two brothers, Chas. A. and John A. and one sister, Mary H., preceded her.

[Laura Belle Edwards Smalley]

Times-Republican

Thursday    February 12, 1924  [p. 2]

Death of Mrs. Thomas Smalley

Mrs. Laura A. Smally [sic] [Smalley], widow of Thomas N. Smally [sic] [Smalley], passed away at the home of her sister, Mrs. L [ytle] C. Widner [Syrena Jane], in north Bedford at 4:10 Sunday afternoon, Feb. 10th.  Funeral services will be held at the Christian Church Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 2:00 p.m.  Services will be conducted by Rev. Price.  In charge of funeral director, A. L. Stithem.  Interment in Fairview Cemetery.

[Cornelia Wilber Hardenbrook]

Bedford Free Press

Wednesday    September 3, 1919    [p. 1]

Mrs. R. L. Hardenbrook Called to Great Beyond

Mrs. R. [ichard] L. [ockwood] Hardenbrook, resident of Bedford since 1870, died at her home in east Bedford, Wednesday, August 27.  The funeral services were held at the home Friday afternoon, conducted by Rev. C. C. Hatcher.  Interment was made in Fairview Cemetery.

Miss Cornelia Wilber, last surviving daughter of the late Erskine and Melissa Wilber, was born in Warren County, Illinois, Feb. 27th, 1844.   Went away home August 27th, 1919, from the family residence in northeast Bedford at 6:00 p.m. after a long and severe season of intense suffering.

Deceased grew to womanhood in Illinois, attended the public schools and Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., and devoted some time afterwards to school teaching.

In 1867 she was united in marriage to the late Richard L. [ockwood] Hardenbrook of Monmouth, who preceded her in death here at the family home Nov. 6th, 1913.

Into their home came 11 children, two of who died in infancy, also a son, Charlie C., and a daughter Mrs. Mabel Kirkpatrick of Seattle, died in 1909.

The surviving ones are: E. W., Acton, Mont., R. F., Sawtelle, Cal., W. B., Modesto, Cal., who were unable to be here; Misses Jessie B., Helen M., Mrs. Persis M. Weir and Miss Inez C., of Bedford, who fondly attended their mother through her long illness and were present when she departed this life.

Three grandchildren, of whom she was very fond, swell the large list of relatives and friends.

While staying with her grandmother and attending school in Galesburg she was converted and joined the Baptist Church.  After coming to Bedford in 1870 she transferred her membership to the Baptist church of this place, and remained in its fellowship, true to her Lord and faithful to her church, till the time of her death.

This good woman was a home lover and gave her life in its care and maintenance.  A great reader, she became informed on the topics of the day and was with all congenial of spirit and versatile in intercourse.

During the past six years, dating from the death of her companion, much of her heart life seemed engulfed in the depths of the beyond.  She seemed gradually to weaken and sigh for the days of yore, for her lover of most 50 years devotions.

Those numerous sweetheart tokens of her gallant companion left a void, which nothing seemed to fill.

With a desire to tarry yet a while with those she loved, she longed for others, loved and lost awhile.

So from out of the evening of her life, as the shadow of earth's day drew near, she left us to begin her new day eternal.

One less at home---one more in heaven.  When the hour shall have struck for us may we be as ready and willing to go unto our new home as was Sister Hardenbrook.

May our Lord comfort and give us His grace unto the day of our final home going.