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

[George W. Keith]

Times-Republican

Thursday    April 9, 1908    [p. 1]

Death of George Keith

Geo. W. Keith died at his home one mile east of Bedford on Saturday, April 4, aged 52 years, three months and 18 days.

Mr. Keith's death was due to that grim monster who each year demands so many victims from both the young and old of our nation---- pneumonia.  Only a week prior to his death he was in rugged health, but he caught cold, pneumonia developed, and in spite of all medical skill could do, five days later he was a corpse.

Deceased was born July 16, 1855, in Clinton County, Iowa.  When only a small boy he moved with his parents to Licking County, Ohio, and remained there until 18 years of age.  He then moved to McLean County, Illinois, where he lived for seven years, coming then to Taylor County, where he ever after made his home.

While a resident of McLean County, Mr. Keith was united in marriage to Miss [Mary] Etta George.  Ten children were born to this union, three of whom have preceded their father to that bourne from which no traveler e'er returns; seven yet survive, together with the bereaved wife and mother.  The surviving children are Clarence, Howard, Ollie, Angie [Angeline], Herman, John and Ralph.  The two eldest boys are grown, and Howard is married.  Ralph, the youngest, is 8 years of age.  Mr. Keith has no other relatives nearer than cousins except two half sisters, Mrs. L. P. Ross of Bedford, and Mrs. John Cannon of Glenwood.

Deceased united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in early manhood, and while he was not a church member of loud pretensions, he was conscientious and sincere, liberal-hearted, and always gave support, both moral and financial, to the work of the church.  He was a member in good standing of the Woodman lodge, and his funeral was in charge of the Bedford camp.

The funeral was held at the Methodist church at 11 a.m. Tuesday, conducted by Rev. Dudley.  Interment at Fairview.

[George W. Keith]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    April 9, 1908    [p. 1]

Obituary -- Geo. W. Keith

Geo. W. Keith was born in Clinton County, Iowa, July 16, 1855, and died at his home southeast of Bedford, April 4, 1908, from pneumonia.

When he was but 18 months of age his father died and he went with his mother to Ohio.  He lived there with her until death took his best friend, his mother.  Thus left orphaned at the age of 19 years, he moved to McLean County, Ill., where on the 18th day of January, 1877, he was united in marriage to Mary E. [tta] George, and to them ten children were born, seven of whom survive their father.

About 15 years ago he united with the M. E. church at Gilead and a little over a year ago he renewed his allegiance to the church under the pastorate of Rev. W. B. Thompson.

Mr. Keith was an industrious citizen, a loving and affectionate husband, father and brother and to the bereaved relatives the sympathy of all is extended.  He has not been enjoying the best of health for some time but he recently was seized with pneumonia and his vitality was not sufficient to throw off the disease and he passed away as stated.

The funeral services were held at the M. E. church in Bedford, on Tuesday, April 7, at 11 o'clock a.m., conducted by Rev. W. M. Dudley.  The burial services were in charge of the M. [odern] W.[oodmen of]  A. [merica], of which he was a member, and their beautiful ritualistic service was used.

[KEITH, GEORGE W.]
Bedford Times-Republican (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, April 9, 1908
Mrs. Sarah Reynolds, sister of Mrs. George Keith, accompanied by her son Roy, arrived here Tuesday from Council Bluffs to attend the funeral of Mr. Keith.
Chas. Keith arrived here Tuesday from Des Moines in response to a message telling of the death of his cousin, George Keith.
Mrs. Dr. Day, sister of Mrs. George Keith, arrived here Monday evening from her home at Salem, Neb. and remained until after the funeral of Mr. Keith.

[Angus Campbell]

Times-Republican

Thursday    April 2, 1908    p. 8

Angus Campbell

Friday, March 27, 1908, in the afternoon, Mr. Angus Campbell departed this life at his home in north Bedford.  For about a week he was not well, but no serious outcome was anticipated from the attack of sickness.  The end came suddenly and unexpectedly.

Mr. Campbell was born in Argylshire, Scotland, November 16, 1823, where he grew to early manhood.  Then he went to the lowlands near Glasgow where he was married to Agnes Aiton in 1852.  To this union was born six children, two of whom died in infancy.  Four daughters survive him----Miss Barbara, Miss Agnes, Miss Christina and Mrs. Jane Lundy.

In 1885 Mr. Campbell came to America and settled on a farm six miles northeast of Bedford.  Five years ago he moved to Bedford, where he has resided ever since. 

He was a loyal citizen of the county of his adoption.  In his early manhood he united with the Free Church of Scotland, and was ever afterwards a loyal member of the church.

As a man, Mr. Campbell was honest and upright, faithful and true.  He so lived as to command the love and respect of all his neighbors and friends, of all who knew him.  He lived justly and loved mercy, and walked humbly with his God.

The funeral service was conducted at the family residence Sabbath afternoon by the pastor of the Presbyterian church, and a large concourse of friends took all that was mortal of him to Fairview cemetery and gently laid it away there to rest "until the shadows flee away and the morning appears."           H.

[Samuel Williamson Campbell Freeman]

Times-Republican

Thursday    April 2, 1908    p. 8

Another Pioneer Stricken.

Word has just been received of the death of C. S. [Samuel Williamson Campbell] Freeman on Monday night, at the home of his son in Clarinda.

Mr. Freeman was one of the oldest settlers in the county, he having lived for a great many years on the farm he owned at the time of his death, a short distance south of Gravity.  He is the father of a large family, but all the children are grown and have homes of their own.  About a year ago his wife [Mary Catherine Flowers] died, and after that Mr. Freeman broke up house keeping and for some time made his home at Gravity.  This winter he has been staying with his son in Clarinda and it was there that death found him.

During his long residence here, Mr. Freeman has formed a wide acquaintance, and by all to whom he is known, he is honored and respected, and his death will cause sadness to many hearts.

[Reason Widner]

Times-Republican

Thursday    March 10, 1910    [p. 5]

Obituary - Reason Widner

Reason Widner, a former Corning citizen, died Thursday, February 24, in Holdrege, Neb., and was brought to Corning Sunday for burial.  The following obituary will be of interest to Mr. Widner's friends here.

Reason Widner was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, in 1862, and came to Adams County, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Widner, when about two years old.  He was the eldest of ten children.  Mr. Widner grew to manhood here, and was married to Miss Ella Kuhney in Corning, April 24, 1883.  In 1887 they moved to Bedford, Ia., where they made their home for sixteen years.  Later, Mr. Widner and his wife located at Bethany, Mo., which was his home at the time of his death.  In Bethany he had employment with the Bethany Hardware Company.  He had gone to spend the holidays with his daughter, Mrs. Malvern Heffron at Holdrege, Neb., and was taken sick with typhoid fever, while there.  He was ill nine weeks, and passed away as stated above on Thursday, Feb. 24.  He leaves a wife and two daughters, Mrs. Julia Heffron of Holdrege, Neb. and Miss Hazel Widner of Lincoln, two granddaughters, three brothers and four sisters, besides his father and mother, who reside in Neosho, Mo.  Mr. Widner was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Bedford, and last November united with the Christian church at Bethany, Mo.  The funeral services were held at the home of his daughter in Holdrege, Neb., Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock, conducted by the pastor of the Bethany, Mo., Christian church, and the remains were brought to Corning Sunday morning on No. 6 for interment in Walnut Grove cemetery.  The remains were accompanied here by Miss Hazel Widner; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ashton, and Elmer Elliott of Lincoln, Neb.; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Chandler of Gravity, Ia.; and Mrs. D. O. Arthur of Corning.  Mrs. Chandler and Mrs. Arthur are sisters of Mr. Widner.

A number of relatives and friends met the bereaved ones at the depot, and the procession went directly to the cemetery where Rev. W. D. Crewdson had charge of the ceremonies.  The pallbearers at Corning were Messrs. C. F. Andrews, W. L. Widmarth, H. E. Westrope, W. S. Lyons, Charles Gray, and J. L. Walker.----Corning Union-Republican.