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

[William Aiton]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    May 1, 1924

Obituary ---- William Aiton

William Aiton was born in Strathaven, Scotland, September 1, 1831.  He was the youngest of a large family and was the last member to pass away.  He came to America in the spring of 1849 and worked with a florist in New York City.

He was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Hook on March 15, 1854, in this city and to them were born nine children, eight of whom survive their father, one passing away in infancy.

Shortly after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Aiton moved from New York to Columbia County, Wisconsin, where they set up their home.  In 1869 they moved to Taylor Co., Iowa, and settled upon a farm west of Bedford.  They resided there for 34 years and moved to Bedford some 20 years ago.

Mr. Aiton was reared in a Scotch Presbyterian home and early in life became actively identified with the church.  While living on the farm, he realized the need for better church privileges in the country and was one of the leaders in organizing the Morning Star Presbyterian Church and aided in securing funds for the erection of the building.  His membership was never removed from this church.

His life was a long and useful one.  He was known for his cheerful disposition and optimistic view of life.  He and Mrs. Aiton celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary last March, which is a very unusual experience in this age of the world.

Surrounded by his loved ones he spent his last years in quietness and enjoyed very good health until a few years ago.  Of late, his strength ebbed and quietly and peacefully he passed beyond this vale of tears to rest from his labors, on Tuesday morning, April 29th, 1924, aged 92 years, 7 months and 28 days.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Catherine Aiton and eight sons and daughters, all of whom were at the funeral this afternoon excepting Mrs. Mason.  They are:

Mrs. Wm. Meikle [Ella], Mrs. C. [harles] O. [scar] Dresher [Jennie], Mrs. H. [enry] K. [irk] Hall [Mary Alice], J. [ames] W. Aiton, A. [rchibald] T. Aiton, all of Bedford and Mrs. A. [lbert] V. Hunt [Agnes], Mrs. G. [eorge] E. Clayton [Grace] of Clarinda, and Mrs. R. [ufus] A. Mason [Emily] of Miami, Florida.  There are also 19 grandchildren.

The funeral was held at the Presbyterian Church May 1, 1924, at 2:30 p. m.  The service was conducted by Rev. John A. Currie, a former pastor and friend of the deceased.  Interment was made in Fairview.


 [Helen Melissa Hardenbrook]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    April 17, 1947    p. 7

Obituary - Miss Helen M. Hardenbrook

Helen M. [elissa] Hardenbrook, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. [ockwood] Hardenbrook [Cornelia Wilbur], was born June 27, 1881, in Taylor County, Iowa, near Bedford, and died Saturday March 29, 1947, at her home in Bedford at the age of 65 years, 9 months, and 2 days.

She attended the schools in Bedford and the Maryville Seminary at Maryville, Missouri.

She became a member of the First Baptist Church of Bedford in 1895.  A devoted worker, she superintended the primary department in the Sunday school for many years.

Pursuing her occupation as seamstress, she had resided in Bedford all the years of her adult life.

She is survived by two sisters, Miss Jessie Hardenbrook and Mrs. Sam Weir, [Persis] both of Bedford.  Other relatives include Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Weir and their son, Jimmie.

Funeral services were conducted at the Wetmore Funeral Home Wednesday afternoon, April 2, by Rev. Eugene B. Nyman.  Burial was in Fairview cemetery.

[Nichole Ruth Amrine]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    October 10, 1946    [p. 1]

Amrine Child Dies

Funeral services were held in Blockton Tuesday for Nichole Ruth Amrine, four-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Amrine [Frances Stanley], who passed away Saturday evening in the Municipal Hospital at Clarinda.  Besides her parents, she is survived by one brother, Stanley Amrine.

[Nichole Ruth Amrine]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    October 17, 1946    p. 4

Obituary - Nichole Amrine

Nichole Ruth Amrine, daughter of Stephen and Frances [Stanley] Amrine, was born November 24, 1942, at Douglas, Kansas, and passed away, after two months illness, at the Municipal Hospital in Clarinda, October 5, 1946 at the age of 3 years, 10 months and 10 days.

She is survived by her parents and one brother, Stanley Stephen.  She was preceded in death by a little sister, Alicia Anne, on December 16, 1941.  She also leaves the grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Abarr of Blockton, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Amrine [Osta Kemery] of Leota, Missouri.

The funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Blockton, Tuesday afternoon, October 8, with the pastor, Rev. McEleney, officiating.  Burial was in Rose Hill cemetery.


[Nichole Ruth Amrine]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday   October 17, 1947    p.4

Attend Amrine Rites

Relatives from away attending the Amrine funeral included: Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Stanley of Columbia, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Archie Amrine [Henrietta Stauss], Gene and Eileen of Kansas City; Mrs. Carl Stanley and Mrs. Lyle Posten of Corning, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Allen McDaniel of Independence, Mo.; Miss Carmen Jenkins of Kansas city; Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Phillips of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Don Ford of Ames; M. L. Abarr and family and Clifford Abarr and family of Albany, Mo.; Mrs. Effie Holland and Harlan Abarr of Redding.

[L. S. Logan]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    October 10, 1946    [p. 1]

L. A. Logan's Father Dies

L. S. Logan, 79, father of L. A. Logan, former Superintendent of the Bedford Schools, died at a hospital in Washington, Iowa, Saturday, as the result of a stroke suffered two and a half years ago.  He had been confined to his bed since January and had been seriously ill the past two weeks.

Mr. and Mrs. Logan, who now reside in Shenandoah, attended the last rites, which were held in Washington Monday afternoon.