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

[Webb, Elmer Elvin]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    June 25, 1953    p. 2

GRAVITY

Elmer Edwin Webb

Elmer Elvin Webb, son of Isaac E. [lkannah] Webb and Mary Hannah Wortman was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, near Pella, May 21, 1876 and died in St. Francis hospital at Maryville, Mo. May 24,1953 at the age of 77 years and three days.

When a small boy, he moved with the family to Taylor county, five miles north of New Market. Here he assisted with the farm work and later took up the occupation of a carpenter. He followed his trade until he was stricken with paralysis about a year ago. About two weeks ago, he was involved in a fire accident, the burns were severe and proved fatal.

On November 4, 1942 he was married to Bertha Bramble Dougherty who survives.

Elmer is one of a family of eleven children. One brother and three sisters preceded him in death, leaving Mrs. Lora Outhier of Long Beach, Calif.; Mrs. Ida Lister of Clarinda, Mrs. Minnie Hicks of Gravity, Walter Webb of Bedford and Frank and George of New Market.

Funeral services were conducted at the Walker Funeral Home Tuesday, May 26, with Rev. Robert M. Peters of the Bedford Methodist church in charge. Burial was in the Clarinda cemetery.

[Swett, John Alvin]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    December 8, 1966    p. 6

John Swett, 88, Rites Nov. 25

Funeral services for John Alvin Swett, 88, of Blockton were held November 25 in the Blockton Methodist Church with Rev. Clarence H. Landis officiating. Interment was at Athelstan Cemetery, Athelstan.

John Alvin Swett, youngest son of Cyrus [Vinson] and Rebecca [Morris] Swett, was born on a farm southwest of Blockton on May 22, 1878.

On May 13 [1925] he was united in marriage with Cora [Mae Goins] Collings. To this union was born one son, Gene R. Swett, of Denver, Colo.

Most of his life was spent in Taylor County with the exception of a few years in St. Joseph, Mo., where he worked for the Burlington Railroad Company.

He was a member of the Blockton Methodist Church.

Mr. Swett is survived by his beloved wife, Cora, of the home in Blockton; a daughter, Mrs. Vernon Wake [Fern Inez], of Sedro Valley, Wash.; two sons, Ansel Swett of Washington, D. C., and Gene Swett of Denver, Colo.; two daughters-in-law, Mrs. Loretta Collings of St. Joseph, and Mrs. Gloria Swett of Denver, Colo.; a son-in-law, Vernon [Earl] Wake, of Sedro Valley, Wash.; one sister, Mrs. Dora [Francis] Older, of Blockton; ten grandchildren and many nieces and nephews; a host of friends and neighbors.

John was a friend to all and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

[Swett, John Alvin]

Clearfield Chronicle

Thursday    December 8, 1966    p. 7

BLOCKTON AREA

Those from out of town attending the last rites of John [Alvin] Swett were: Mr. and Mrs. Ora Ewart of Lenox; Mrs. Laverne Novak of Diagonal; Henry Young of Athelstan, Missouri; Leonard Rusco of Sheridan.

Also A. B. Freemyer of Clarinda; Mr. and Mrs. Jakie Green of Denver, Missouri; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Norris of Bedford; Ansel Freemyer and Clark Walston of Conway; Mr. and Mrs. Ora Sweet of Creston; Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Sickles of Athelstan and Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Byrnes of Grant City, Missouri.

[Swett, Cora Mae Goins Collings]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    April 9, 1970    p. 8

Cora Mae Swett Rites April 3

Funeral services for Mrs. John (Cora Mae) Swett, 87, of Blockton were held April

3 at Andrews Funeral Home in Grant City, Mo., conducted by Rev. Clarence H. Landis. Mrs. Swett died March 30, 1970 at Clarinda Municipal Hospital after a lingering illness. Interment was at the Athelstan, Iowa, Cemetery.

Cora Mae Swett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Gains [Goins], was born July 18, 1883 at Battle Creek, Iowa.

She was united in marriage to John [Alvin] Swett May 13, 1925. To this union was born one son, Gene Swett of Denver, Colorado.

She was a member of the Blockton United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John, three years ago and two sons, Charles and Alva Collings.

She is survived by her son, Gene Swett, of Denver, Colorado; one sister, Dr. Fannie Gardner of Newark, New Jersey; 10 grandchildren: six great grandchildren; a number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

[Older, Dora Francis Swett]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 18, 1967    p. 6

Mrs. Dora Older Rites May 13

Funeral services for Mrs. Albert (Dora) Older, 95, of Blockton, were held May 13 at the Blockton Christian Church with Rev. G. W. Swan officiating. Mrs. Older died May 9 at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mt. Ayr. Interment was at Blockton Cemetery.

Dora Francis Older, daughter of Cyrus [Vinson] and Rebecca [Morris] Sweet [Swett], was born May 13, 1871. She was reared in Taylor County.

She was united in marriage to Albert Frederick Older at Bedford on April 18, 1893. To this union four children were born: Roxie, Roy, Guy and Nola.

Mrs. Older became a member of the Mt Zion Baptist Church where she was faithful until declining health.  She was one of the sturdy pioneer stock, wanting to care for others as well as herself, as long as physical strength would permit.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1961; four brothers and four sisters.

Those surviving are four children: Mrs. Roxie Naill of Blockton; Roy Older of Yucaipa, Calif.; Guy Older of Clearfield; and Mrs. Nola McCalla of Blockton; nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

[Older, Albert Fredrick]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    June 1, 1961     p. 5

Albert F. Older Dies At Age 89

Funeral services for Albert F. [redrick] Older, 89, were held May 25 at the Blockton Christian church, with Rev. Ernest Leierer officiating. Burial was in Blockton.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Dora [Francis] Older; two daughters, Mrs. Roxie [Fern] Naill and Mrs. Nola McCalla, both of Blockton; two sons, Roy Older, Yucaipa, Calif., and Guy Older, Malcom, Iowa; two brothers, Melvin Older, Athelstan, and William J. Older, Gravois Mills, Mo., and two sisters, Mrs. Anna King, Barnard, Mo., and Mrs. Etta Bownes, Clarinda

[Older, Albert Fredrick]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    June 8, 1961    p. 6

A. F. Older Rites Held In Blockton

Last rites for A. F. Older were held at the Christian church in Blockton, Thursday, May 25. Rev. Ernest Leierer, pastor of the church officiated. Burial in Rose Hill cemetery there.

Albert Fredrick Older, son of George William and Elizabeth Jane [Fursie] Older, was born May 21, 1872, in Worth County, Mo., and died May 21 at the age of 89 years. He was married to Dora Francis Swett on April 18, 1893 at Bedford.

He leaves to mourn his parting, his wife, Dora and four children: Mrs. Roxie [Fern] Naill of Blockton, Roy Older of Yucaipa, Calif., Guy Older of Malcom, Ia., Mrs. Nola McCalla of Blockton; nine grandchildren, ten great grandchildren; two brothers, Melvin Older of Athelstan, William J. Older of Gravois Mills, Mo.; two sisters, Mrs. Anna King of Barnard, Mo., Mrs. Etta Bownes of Clarinda.

Mr. Older moved to Taylor County at the age of six and resided on a farm until 1933, when he moved to Blockton. Albert and Dora Older observed their 68th wedding anniversary on April 18, 1961.

He was preceded in death by two sisters and one brother. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

[Kidder, Blanche Lois Walston]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    September 2, 1948   [p. 1]

Former Resident Dies In West

Mrs. Blanche [Lois Walston] Kidder, a former resident of the community east of Bedford, died Thursday, August 26 at her home in Bellingham, Washington. She had been an invalid the past year, after having suffered a broken hip at that time.

The funeral services were held Tuesday at Ferndale, Washington, where burial was also made. She is survived by her husband. Mrs. Kidder was a sister of Tom Walston of Conway, who received the word of her death.

[Kidder, Blanche Lois Walston]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    September 16, 1948   [p. 1]

Obituary - Mrs. W. E. Kidder

Blanche Lois Walston was born in Illinois, Nov. 11, 1864, and died at the home of her nephew, Howard Walston at Ferndale, Wash., August 28, aged 83 years, 9 months, 15 days.

She was married to Willis E. [lmer] Kidder, Dec. 25, 1886 in Bedford.

She is survived by her husband; two sisters, Mrs. C. [yrus] V. [inson] Swett [Fannie] of Mt. Vernon, Wash., and Mrs. [Susan] Irene Ward of North Platte, Nebr.; 5 brothers, S. [ilas] D. [ouglas] Walston of Lynden, Wash., J. [ames] R.[obert] Walston of Vancouver, Wash., R.[oy] C. [orbin] Walston of Bliss, Idaho; G. [rover] C.[leveland] Walston of Malvern, T. [homas] W. [alter] Walston of Sharpsburg.

The funeral services were held at Ferndale, Wash., and burial made there.

[Kidder, Willis Elmer]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    July 27, 1950    [p. 1]

Former Resident Dies In The West

W. [illis] E. [lmer] Kidder, 86, a former resident of Taylor County, died in Ferndale, Washington, Tuesday, July 11. The funeral services and burial were there.

Mr. Kidder was born in Illinois in 1864. He was married December 25, 1886 to Blanche L. [ois] Walston, also of Taylor County. Mrs. Kidder died two years ago. He is survived by two nieces and four nephews.

[Rusco, Charles Theodore]

Blockton News

Thursday    May 17, 1934    [p. 1]

Obituary

Charles Theodore Rusco, son of Alfred and Rachel [Hand] Rusco, was born at South Bend, Indiana, Feb. 2, 1855 and departed this life at his home in Athelstan, Iowa, May 8, 1934 at the age of 79 years, 3 months and 5 days.

At an early age he came to Taylor County where he spent his entire life.

He leaves, to mourn his departure, his wife, 10 children, 44 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, one brother and one sister, Jane Cordell and [Jesse] Alva Rusco, of Olive, Oklahoma.

 He was united in marriage to Mary Catherine Swett July 12, 1870, and to this union 13 children were born—[Ida] Alice Freemyer, of Quincy, Illinois; Clara [Belle] Freemyer, of Bedford; Jess [Alva] Rusco, of Olive, Oklahoma; Charley, John, Albert [James], Joe and Turner Rusco and Ethel [Dora] Sickels, all of Athelstan; Floy [Mae] Ray, of Lenox; Tom, who died in 1918, and Carrie and Tine who died in infancy.

L. B. Day delivered the funeral address. The flower girls were Mrs. Zelda Sickels, Mrs. Ruby Jenkins, Mrs, Helen Sickels, Mrs. Gawilda Schuster, Agnes Freemyer, Freda Rusco, Marjorie Rusco, Mildred Rusco, Elaine and Louise Freemyer.  Marion and Calvin Jenkins, L. B. Day, and Mrs. Roy Reith, with Mrs. Frank Freeland at the piano, sang ''Going Down the Valley," and "Rock of Ages." The pallbearers were Ed and Tine Raper, Bert Older, W. R, Reed, P.O. Townsend and John Van Skyock.

Funeral services were held at Athelstan Baptist church Thursday and burial was made in the Athelstan cemetery.

[Rusco, Mary Catherine Swett]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 19, 1938    p. 7

OBITUARY

Mrs. Mary Rusco

Mrs. Mary Rusco died at her home in Athelstan, Wednesday, May 11, 1938, at the age of 83 years and 3 months.

The funeral services were held at the Community Church Friday afternoon conducted by Rev. Mr. Day of Pickering, Mo. Burial was in the Athelstan cemetery.

Mary Catherine Swett, daughter of Cyrus and Rebecca [Morris] Swett, was born in Jefferson Township, Feb. 11, 1855.

She was united in marriage to Charles Tobias [Theodore] Rusco July 12, 1871. To this union thirteen children was born. Her husband and four children preceded her in death, John, Thomas [Jefferson] and two infants. Surviving are Alice Freemyer of Creston, Clara [Belle] Freemyer of Bedford, Jesse [Alva] Rusco of Blue Jacket, Okla., Ethel [Dora] Sickels of Athelstan, Charles [Edward] Rusco, Albert [James] Rusco, Turner Rusco and Joe Rusco of Athelstan, Floy [Mae] Ray of Conway.

She is also survived by two sisters and two brothers, Dora [Francis] Older of Blockton, Ida [Alice] Debow of Armington, Mont., John [Alvin] Swett of Athelstan and Bud [Cyrus Vinson] Swett of Mt. Vernon, Wash. There are also forty-four grandchildren and forty- two great grandchildren.

[Rusco, Mary Catherine Swett]

Blockton News

Thursday    May 19, 1938    [p. 1]

Obituary

Mary Catherine Swett, daughter of Cyrus [Vinson] and Rebecca [Morris] Swett, was born in Jefferson Township, Taylor County, Iowa, Feb. 11, 1855, and departed this life May 11, 1938, at the age of 83 years and 3 months.

She was united in marriage to Charles Tobias [Theodore] Rusco July 12, 1871. To this union 13 children were born. Her husband and 4 children preceded her in death---John, Thomas and two infants. Surviving are [Ida] Alice Freemyer, Creston; Clara [Belle] Freemyer, Bedford; Jesse [Alva] Rusco, Blue Jacket, Okla.; Ethel [Dora] Sickels, and Charles [Edward], Albert [James], Turner and Joe Rusco, Athelstan, and Floy [Mae] Ray, Conway. Also two sisters and two brothers—Mrs. Dora [Francis] Older, Blockton; Mrs. Ida [Alice] DeVoe [Debow], Armington, Montana; John [Alvin] Sweet, Athelstan, and Bud [Cyrus Vinson] Swett, Mt. Vernon, Washington. Also left to mourn her departure are 44 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the Community church in Athelstan at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Day of Pickering, and interment was made in the Athelstan cemetery. The pallbearers were six grandsons, L [l] oyd, Leonard, Ray, Royal and Floyd Rusco and Ansel Freemyer.

[Rusco, Mary Catherine Swett]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 19, 1938    p. 7

ATHELSTAN

Attend Rusco Funeral

Those from a distance attending the funeral of Mrs. Mary Rusco Friday were Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Lantz of Sheridan; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Sickels of Conway; Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Al Kemery, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Kemery, Mrs. Ida Campbell and Miss Nina Campbell of Blockton; Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Hennegin, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hennegin, Mrs. Perry Byrns and Mrs. Roy Armstrong of Bedford.

[Rusco, Mary Catherine Swett]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 19, 1938    p. 7

ATHELSTAN LOCALS

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Rusco of Ravenwood, Mo., came Thursday, called by the death of his grandmother, Mrs. Mary [Catherine Swett] Rusco.

 

[Ahrens, Ulrich C.]

Bedford Times-Republican

Thursday    February 26, 1931    p. 7

Ulrich C. Ahrens

U. C. Ahrens passed away at his home in north Bedford last Thursday. The funeral services were held at the Wetmore Funeral Home, Sunday afternoon.  Interment was made in the Fairview cemetery.

Ulrich C. Ahrens, son of Hiram and Anna Katherine Ahrens was born March 16th, 1851, in Germany. Mr. Ahrens came to this country when quite young and settled with his parents at Sterling, Ill. He was married to Miss Adelia [Amanda] Jannsen of Sterling, Ill., in the year 1875. After residing at Sterling for six years, he came to Iowa and settled on a farm near Cumberland where he lived until the year 1909, when he retired and moved to Atlantic, Iowa. After living in Atlantic 14 years, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. Ahrens suffered a stroke eight years ago and due to poor health moved to Bedford six months ago that he might be near his son Ed, and, his daughter, Pauline [Marie] Michaels. He is survived by six children, as follows: Dr. Harvey Ahrens of Redfield, Ia.; Dr. Lewis [Henry] Ahrens of Fontanelle, Ia.; Ed Ahrens of Bedford; Mrs. B. [enjamin] F.[ranklin] Michaels of Gravity; Mrs. C. [arl] O. [scar] Shalburg of Omaha, Nebr.; and Mrs. C. [lifford] D. [allas] Powell [Hannah] of St. Petersburg, Fla., all of whom were at his bedside with the exception of Mrs. Powell. He is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Tobe Jannsen of Carrol, Iowa; one nephew, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Mr. Ahrens united with the Lutheran Church when quite young and remained in this faith all of his life.

[Phillips, Nancy Almira Shepherd]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    December 19, 1946    p. 2

Obituary - Mrs. Nancy Phillips

Nancy Almira Shepherd, daughter of Jesse and Sarah [Mariah Lathrop] Shepherd, was born in Warren county, Illinois, November 17, 1866 and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Loyd Smith near Siam, Tuesday, December 10, at the age of 80 years and 23 days.

At the age of thirteen years, she moved from Warren County with her parents to a farm near Clearfield and the remainder of her life was spent in Taylor County.

On February 17, 1887 she was married to Emmer Phillips. To them five children were born.

She leaves to mourn her passing two daughters and two sons: Mrs Aura [May] Smith of Bedford, Mrs. Dessie Smith of Siam, [Hugh] Fern Phillips of Lenox and [Clyde] Garret Phillips of Atlantic; also 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

One sister, Mrs. Lucinda [May] Wilt of Belleville, Illinois, also survives, along with a number of nieces and nephews. One son, Earl Oliver and one grandson, Eugene Smith, preceded her in death. Her husband died July 21, 1928 at his home in Conway.

The funeral services were held from the Shum Funeral Home, Thursday, Dec. 12, conducted by Rev Russell G. Nye. Burial was in the Conway cemetery.

[Phillips, Emmer M.]

Clearfield Enterprise

Thursday    July 26, 1928    [p. 1]

Death of M. Phillips

Mr. [Emmer] M. Phillips of Conway, who lived at one time for many years out in the neighborhood of Greenwood Church, died on last Saturday. His death was directly caused by a fall in a barn, which accident preceded his death by some days. His injuries proved too severe for a man of his age to recover from. He was well known to many in this community. The funeral was held at Conway on Monday afternoon, July 23d.

[Roush, Henry Harris]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    April 8, 1926    p. 6

SIAM

Henry [Harris] Roush, who had almost reached the 90th milestone in life, passed away at the home of his son, Charley in Siam, Saturday morning, about 9 o'clock. His wife preceded him to the better world many years ago. He leaves five sons and three daughters, 24 grand children and 27 great grand children, also an aged sister, to mourn their loss. He was almost a life long member of the Methodist church. A veteran of the Civil War, and in the early days was granted a license to preach. He had a kind disposition and was a friend to all. And as he had often remarked lately, was a ripened sheaf only waiting for the reaper. Funeral services were conducted Monday at 10 a. m. at the Methodist church by the pastor, Rev. Bennett, assisted by [the] pastor of New Market church. Interment in Siam Cemetery

[Green, Nellie Lee]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    May 2, 1912    p. 8

Died: At 7:30 a. m., April 25, 1912, Nellie Lee, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer [Elsworth] Green [Emma Charlotte Kinney Bubb], in northeast Bedford. Inanition is given as the cause of death, which came nineteen days after birth. The funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at the home conducted by Elder Mattox, after which the body was laid to rest in the Bedford cemetery.

[Peterman, Bertie Ellsworth]

Bedford Times-Republican

Thursday    June 21, 1928    p. 3

Bertie E. Peterman

Bertie Ellsworth Peterman was born on a farm near New Market, Aug. 19, 1879, and passed away at his home in Clarinda, June 12th, 1928, at the age of 48 years, 9 months and 23 days, his death being caused by flu followed by Bright's disease. On Dec. 30, 1900, he was united in marriage to Myrtle M. [ay] Slaight and to this union five children were born, who with the mother survive him. The children are: Mrs. Clarice McKay of Bedford, Mrs. Ruby Combs of New Market, Gladys, Beryl and Ivan at home. He leaves his father John P. [ierce] Peterman, of New Market, his mother [Mary Delilah Scarlett] having passed away nearly seventeen years ago, also four brothers and three sisters: Eddie Peterman of New Market, Merrill Peterman of New Market, Harley Peterman of St. Lawrence S. D., Elmo Peterman of New Market, Mrs. Geo. Yearous of St. Lawrence, S. D., Mrs. Cordia Thompson of Clarinda and Mrs. Tamar Thomas of Shambaugh. With the exception of three years spent on the farm in Taylor County, he had spent the rest of his life in Page County. Four years ago the family moved to Clarinda where he had lived up to the time of his death.

Funeral services were held at the home on Friday afternoon, June 15 at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. B. F. Hall of the Christian church. He was laid to rest in the Memory cemetery, the pallbearers being his old time friends and neighbors.

 [Ouderkirk, Charles Raymond]

Clearfield Enterprise

Thursday    August 2, 1928    [p. 1]

Charles Raymond Ouderkirk

Charles Raymond Ouderkirk, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ouderkirk [Helen Rupert] of Corning, Iowa departed its short life at the Community Hospital in Creston Saturday July 28th. Interment was in the Clearfield Cemetery Saturday afternoon. A few words and a prayer was said at the Cemetery by Rev. Roy B. Weaklend.