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[Akers, Benjamin
Franklin “Frank”]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday March 20, 1941 [p. 1]
oldest
veteran dies at gravity
Benjamin
Franklin Akers was born in Pike
County, Penn., Nov. 30, 1842 and died Monday, March 17, 1941, at the age of 98
years, 3 months and 17 days.
He
came with his parents to Iowa in 1857. At the age of 18 he joined the
Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Co. A, in June 1862. He was promoted to
corporal in 1863. He saw active service in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion
Mississippi; Black River Bridge Assault and Siege of Vicksburg; Winchester,
Virginia; Fisher Hill Cedar Creek, Virginia; and numerous skirmishes, forced
marches, etc. He was never off duty a single day during his three years of
service.
After
being discharged on July 25, 1865 he doffed the Union Blue of the Army and
donned the jeans of a farmer, which business he successfully followed.
In
1867 he was married to Harriet J. [osephine] Bannister, a native of Illinois. To them were born nine
children, four of whom died in infancy. His wife died May 4, 1926; Cora A. [lmeta] on Feb. 4, 1928; and Luta E. Feb. 3, 1929.
Surviving
are three sons, Robert H. [enry] Akers, Chester A. [rthur] Akers, and Ray [mond
Otto] Akers, all of Gravity.
There are twenty grandchildren, thirty-seven great grandchildren and two great
great grandchildren.
He
spent 72 years in Taylor County, most of that time on his farm and the
remaining few years at his home in Gravity. He was the last remaining member of
a large family. He was a good father and neighbor, and a fried to all who knew
him.
Mr.
Akers was the last surviving
Civil War Veteran in Taylor County and one of the few in the state. Military
funeral services were held in Gravity Wednesday afternoon and burial was in the
Gravity cemetery.
[Akers, Benjamin
Franklin “Frank”]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday March 20,
1941 p. 3
GRAVITY
Civil War Veteran Dies
Frank
Akers died Monday, March 17 at
the Municipal Hospital in Clarinda. Mr. Akers was the last of Taylor County’s Civil War
veterans.
[Akers, Benjamin
Franklin “Frank”]
Blockton News
Thursday March 20,
1941 p. 8
Frank
B. Akers, last of the Civil war
veterans in Taylor County, died Monday at the age of 98 years, 3 months and 17
days. He had lived on the home farm near Gravity since his discharge from the
army.
[Akers, Chester Arthur]
Lenox Time Table
Thursday June 6,
1968 [p. 1]
Chester Akers Died Sunday
Chester
Akers, 82, died at the hospital
in Leon, Sunday morning. He had been in a nursing home there for some time.
Mr.
Akers formerly farmed near
Gravity but in recent years has lived on acreage in the south part of Lenox. Mrs.
Akers [Eva May Kirby] died about two years ago.
Survivors
include three sons, Marvin of
Leon, Melvin of Benton and Harold of Gravity, two daughters, Arlene of Clarinda and Mildred Hammill of California. Lawrence Kirby of Lenox is a brother-in-law.
Funeral
services were conducted at the Shum funeral home in Bedford at 2 p. m.
Wednesday with burial at Gravity.
[Akers, Chester
Arthur]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday June 6,
1968 p. 8
Chester Akers Rites June 5
Funeral
services for Chester Arthur Akers,
82, of Lenox were held Wednesday at the Gravity Christian Church conducted by
Rev. Ivo G. Randels. Mr. Akers died June 2 at a Leon hospital. Interment was at
Washington Cemetery, Gravity.
[Akers, Eunice Veda
Piper]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday February 10,
1977 p. 2
Eunice Akers, 85, Final Rites Held February 7
Funeral
services for Mrs. Ray (Eunice Akers),
85, of Bedford, were held February 7, at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home here. Mrs.
Akers died February 4, 1977 in
the Hamburg, Ia. hospital. Interment was at Washington Cemetery, Gravity, Iowa.
[Akers, Eunice Veda
Piper]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday February 17,
1977 p. 6
Eunice Akers, 85, Final Rites Held February 7
Funeral
services for Mrs. Ray (Eunice) Akers, 85, of Bedford, were held February 7 in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home
in Bedford with Carl Cummings officiating. Mrs. Akers died February 4, 1977 at the Grape Community
Hospital in Hamburg, Ia. Interment was at Washington Cemetery, Gravity.
Eunice
Veda Piper Akers, daughter of Ezekiel
and Ida Jane Muckey Piper, was
born November 20, 1891, in Page County, Iowa.
She
moved with her family in her early youth to a farm west of Sharpsburg, Iowa, in
Taylor County, the year 1907, where she grew to maturity attending the public
schools and the Blue Grove Church.
On
October 25, 1916, she was united in marriage to Ray Akers, at the Methodist Parsonage in Bedford, Iowa.
They lived on farms in the Gravity area until they moved to Bedford in 1945.
Three
daughters were born to bless their home and to share their love: Lavelle,
Lois and Youvaun.
She
was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ray Akers who died January 8, 1967, one sister Elsie
Akers and a brother H. A.
Piper, also two grandchildren.
Left
to cherish her memory are the three daughters: Lavelle Werner and her husband, Gerald, of Waxahachie, Texas, Lois Whelan and her husband, Tim, of Watson, Missouri, and Youvaun Fine and her husband Fred of Bedford; a step-son, Darrel Akers and his wife Atha, of Gravity; a step-daughter, Dorothy Crowe and her husband, Edward of Colorado Springs, Colo; nine grandchildren; 13
great grandchildren; 15 step grandchildren and 40 step great grandchildren and
one great great step granddaughter. Other relatives and many friends.
Following
the death of her husband she continued to reside in Bedford until about two
years ago when she moved to Hopkins, Mo., where she has since made her home.
Ill health has required frequent hospitalization and her daughter, Lois
Whelan, has given kind and loving
care during these past two months of her life.
She
will be remembered by her family and friends as a kind and considerate mother,
grandmother, friend and neighbor, and she will be sadly missed by all who knew
and loved her.
[Akers, Eva Hough
McCracken]
Thursday April 20,
1944 p. 3
GRAVITY
Obituary - Eva H.
Akers
Eva
H. [ough], daughter of Abram and Mary [Ann Hough] McCracken, was born on November 20, 1869, and spent her
entire life in Washington Township, Taylor County, Iowa.
She
was married to Robert H. [enry] Akers on May 18, 1898. To them were born three children, Mrs. Marjorie [Dee]
Cerven of Gravity, Frank [Abram]
Akers of Gravity, and Mrs.
Mary [Josephine] DeVol of St.
Joseph, Missouri. She died April 13, 1944 at the family home northeast of
Gravity at the age of 74 years, 4 months and 23 days.
She
was a loving and kind wife and mother. Among her special pleasures were caring
for the sick and her love for flowers.
She
was preceded in death by her father and mother, two brothers and two sisters.
Besides her husband and
three children before mentioned, she is survived by two brothers, Dr. Earl
McCracken of Shreveport,
Louisiana, and Dr. George McCracken of North Star, Alberta, Canada. A niece, Miss Icea [Algeo of Lebanon, Missouri, was the only relative from
a distance to attend the last rites, which were held Sunday afternoon, April
16, at the Methodist church of Gravity, conducted by Rev. Z. M. Bressler.
Burial was in the Gravity cemetery.
____________________
Attend Akers Rites
Those
from out of town attending the funeral services for Mrs. Robert Akers were Inice Crowell of Lenox, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Lacox of Nodaway, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Hess of Villisca, Miss Icae Algeo of Lebanon, Mo., Mr. and Mrs. Herb Akers of Bedford, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph DeVol and family of St. Joseph.
[Akers, Eva Hough
McCracken]
Taylor County
Herald
Thursday April 20, 1944 p. 4
Gravity News
Mrs.
Ralph DeVol [Mary Josephine] of St. Joe. Mo., was called here Thursday by the
death of her mother, Mrs. Robert Akers [Eva Hough McCracken].
[Akers, Eva Hough
McCracken]
Taylor County
Herald
Thursday April 20, 1944 p. 8
Funeral Rites Held For Mrs. Eva Akers
Mrs.
Robert Akers of Gravity, who had
been ill for the past seven years, died Thursday afternoon at her home.
Eva
H. [ough], daughter of Abram and Mary [Ann Hough] McCracken, was born Nov. 20, 1869, and spent her entire
life In Washington township, Taylor county.
She
was married to Robert H. [enry] Akers on May 18, 1898. To this union, three children were born: Mrs.
Marjorie [Dee] Cerven, of
Gravity, Frank [Abram] Akers,
of Gravity, and Mrs. Mary [Josephine] DeVol, of St. Joseph, Mo.
At
the time of her death, she was 71 years, four months, and 23 days of age. She
was a loving and kind wife and mother. Among her special pleasures were caring
for the sick and her love for flowers.
She
was preceded in death by her father and mother, two brothers and two sisters.
Besides
her devoted husband and her three children, she is survived by two brothers, Dr.
Earl McCracken of Shreveport,
La., and Dr. George McCracken of North Star, Alberta, Canada. Besides these, she leaves many other relatives
of which the only niece from a distance that was able to attend her funeral
service was Miss Icae Algeo of
Lebanon, Mo.
Funeral
services were conducted Sunday, April 16, at 3:30 o'clock in the Methodist
church of Gravity by Rev. Z. M. Bressler. Miss Margaret Hackman and Dorothy
Lewis, accompanied at the piano by Mrs. Meredith Walker, sang "Face to
Face" and "Saved by Grace." Pallbearers were John Gaebler, Lewis
Coy, Lewis Morley, Harry Morley, Fred McKune and Paul Parrish. Interment was
made in the Gravity cemetery.
[Akers, Eva May Kirby]
Lenox Time Table
Thursday April 7,
1966 [p.
1]
Services April 6 For Mrs.
Akers, 76
Mrs.
Chester (Eva) Akers, 76, died at
Rosary Hospital Saturday night, April 2. Funeral services were Wednesday at the
Christian Church with burial in the Gravity cemetery.
Survivors
include her husband; three sons, Harold of Gravity, Marvin of Leon and Melvin of Benton;
two daughters Mrs. Al Hummel of Hawaii and Mrs. Don Lewis of Clarinda; two brothers, Lawrence Kirby of Lenox and Guy Kirby of Brighton, Colo.; eleven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
The Akers home is on a farm south
of Lenox.
[Akers, Eva May Kirby]
Lenox Time Table
Thursday April 14,
1966 [p. 1]
Mrs. Chester Akers Called in Death
Memorial
services for Mrs. Chester Akers,
long-time resident of the Lenox community, who passed away at the Corning
(Rosary) Hospital on April 2, 1966, were held at the Lenox Christian Church on
Wednesday, April 6th at 2:00 PM. With the Rev. David Shaeffer officiating.
Interment was at Gravity, Iowa.
Eva
May Kirby the daughter of William
Wesley Kirby and Anna Mary
Cree was born September 23, 1889
at Bingham, Nebraska, in a sod hut and passed away at the Rosary hospital at
Corning Saturday, April 2, 1966 at the age of 76 years, 6 mos., and 10 days.
While
she was in an early age the family moved to Iowa, and she received her
education in Page and Taylor counties. In her youth she united with the Gravity
Christian Church.
She
was united in marriage to Chester A. [rthur] Akers on Jan. 22, 1908 at her home place near Gravity
with an evening service. To this union were born five children: Harold Akers of Gravity, Ia.; Marvin Akers of Leon, Ia.; Mrs. Mildred Hummel, Honolulu, Hawaii; Mrs. Arlene Lewis of Clarinda, Ia.; and Melvin Akers of Benton; Ia: Her eleven grandchildren and eleven
great grandchildren, were her pride and joy.
She
was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Earl and a sister Mary.
She
leaves to mourn her passing her husband, Chester; the children; two brothers, Lawrence Kirby of Lenox, Ia. and Guy Kirby of Brighton, Colo., along with a host of friends
and acquaintances.
The Chester Akers family moved to
Lenox, Ia. from Gravity in 1945, and it was then that Mrs. Akers became a member of the Christian Women's
Fellowship of the Lenox Christian Church, whose Christian, associations she
enjoyed so much. Mr. and Mrs. Akers celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their farm home just south of
Lenox, in 1958.
Mrs. Akers was of a quiet and kindly disposition, loving and
serving her Lord and family in an unobtrusive manner, content just to serve
those whom she loved. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her friendly
ways.
[Note:
The same obituary was printed in the Bedford Times-Press, April 21, 1966, p. 6.]
[Akers, Eva May Kirby]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday April 7, 1966 p. 4
Eva May Akers Rites April 6
Funeral
services for Mrs. Chester (Eva) Akers, 76, of Lenox were held Wednesday, April 6, at the Lenox Christian
Church with Rev. David A. Schaeffer officiating. Mrs. [Eva May Kirby] Akers died April 2, 1966 at Rosary Hospital in
Corning. Interment was at
Washington Cemetery, Gravity.
[Akers, Harriet
Josephine Bannister]
Bedford Free Press
Thursday May 6, 1926 [p.1]
Mrs. Frank Akers Dead
Mrs.
Frank Akers [Harriet Josephine
Bannister] of Gravity, pioneer
woman of the county, died at her home Tuesday evening of this week.
[Akers, Harriet
Josephine Bannister]
Bedford Free Press
Thursday May 13, 1926 p. 6
gravity
Mrs.
Frank Akers [Harriet Josephine
Bannister] died Tuesday night
after several months' illness. Her funeral was held Thursday afternoon at 3:30
at the Methodist church. Burial was in Gravity cemetery.
[Akers, Robert Henry]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday July 28,
1955 [p. 1]
Robert H. Akers Of Gravity Dies
Robert
H. [enry] Akers, a long-time
resident of the Gravity community, died at Municipal hospital in Clarinda, July
22.
Funeral
services were held at the Wetmore Funeral Home in Bedford, Sunday afternoon,
conducted by Rev. Clyde Kelly of the Gravity Christian church. Burial in the
Gravity cemetery.
Robert
H. [enry] Akers, oldest child of Benjamin
[Franklin] and Harriet [Josephine Bannister] Akers, was born in Johnson County, Iowa, March 3, 1869
and died at the age of 86 years, four months, 19 days.
He
came to Taylor County in the fall of 1869 and spent the remainder of his life
here.
He
was married to Eva H. [ough] McCracken on May 18, 1898. To them three children were born, Mrs. Marjorie [Dee]
Cerven and Frank [Abram] Akers of Gravity, Mrs. Mary [Josephine] DeVol of DeWitt, Nebraska. There are seven
grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren; two brothers, Chester [Arthur]
Akers of Lenox and Ray Akers of Bedford.
[Blakely, Lydia
Sampson]
Iowa South-west
Saturday June 16,
1877 p. 3
In Memoriam
Whereas,
It has pleased the Master of the universe to visit, by death, the home of our
worthy Brother, John L. [emmons] Blakeley, by the removal of his beloved wife, Lydia [Sampson] Blakeley, after an illness of many weeks, to that home
above, eternal as the heavens. The deceased departed this life on the 18th day
of May, A. D., 1877, and has been long a member of the Missionary Baptist
church, and during her journey on earth, tried to live so as to merit the
salutation of "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the
joy of thy Lord." She was beloved by a large circle of friends, who
heartily sympathize with the friends of the departed in their bereavement. A
husband and large family mourn for her, but not as those without hope. It is
Resolved, By this Grange,
No. 647, that we extend to our worthy brother, John L.[emmons] Blakeley, our heartfelt sympathy in his bereavement, and
order that a copy of those resolutions be printed in the Iowa South-West, and read at the next regular meeting of this
grange, and spread upon its records.
Committee,
Mary E. BURGE, A. BI.ACKSTONE, T. G. WOODS.
[Beall, Sarah E.
Canon]
Taylor County
Democrat
Thursday July 19, 1894 p. 4
Mrs.
Sarah Bell [Beall], formerly a
resident of this city died at her home in Beatrice, Nebraska, on last Thursday
evening. Lon and James Cannon [Canon], brothers of the deceased, went to Beatrice last Friday night to
attend the funeral.
[Carpenter, Elisha D.]
Bedford Free Press
Thursday March 28, 1901 p. 5
E.
[lisha] D. Carpenter died at his
home five miles north of Gravity, last Tuesday and was buried in the Gravity
cemetery.
[Carpenter, Evangeline
“Eva” Tucker]
Bedford
Times-Republican
Thursday December 11,
1930 p. 7
Mrs. Evangeline
Carpenter
Mrs.
Evangeline [“Eva” Tucker] Carpenter,
who passed away to her reward on November 27, was residing with her daughter, Mrs.
John Garrett in Hartford, Mich.
She was born Jan. 27, 1854, in the state of Indiana. In her youth she came to
Iowa. She was married to Elisha Carpenter at Bedford, February 13, 1872, and her residence has centered in
Gravity much of the time since. To this union eight children were born, five of
whom survive. The husband passed away 29 years ago.
The
funeral services were held at Gravity Sunday of last week, where interment was
also made.
The
deceased was a sister of Mrs. Mary Greenlee of Bedford.
[Day, Fay Alice
Rutledge]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday September 14,
1978 p. 10
Last Rites Held
September 9 For Fay Day,
83
Funeral
services for Mrs. Wilbur (Fay Rutledge) Day, 83, of Des
Moines, held September 9 in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford, were
conducted by Rev. Dwayne Madsen. Mrs. Day died September 5, 1978 in Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Internment
was at Lexington Cemetery, Clayton Township, Taylor County, Iowa.
Fay
[Alice] Rutledge Day, daughter of Abraham [Elmer] and Mary Ellen [Fisher] Rutledge, was born in Sharpsburg, Iowa July 20, 1895. She
lived in Sharpsburg and grew to maturity there where she attended the public
school and the Methodist Church.
In
[July31] 1920 she was united in marriage to Wilbur [Ellsworth] Day in Des Moines, Iowa and they lived in Des Moines.
To
this union two children were born, Bill Day and Robert [Rutledge] Day.
She was employed by the
Des Moines Public School System for 30 years. Mrs. Day was a member of the United Methodist Church and
Order of the Eastern Star.
She
was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and son; one sister and two
brothers.
Left
to cherish her memory are one son, Robert, of Des Moines; three sisters, Helen Clayton of Bedford; Harriet Thornell of Clarinda, and Mary Allene of Pueblo, Colo.; six grandchildren and seven
great grandchildren.
She
was a kind and considerate mother and sister and will be missed by all who knew
and loved her.
[Fisher, Annie]
Iowa South-west
Saturday February 10, 1877 p. 3
DIED.
fisher.
—January 26th, 1877, little Annie, daughter of L. [aban Talon] and H.[arriet Lovitt] Fisher, aged 2 years and one day.
She breathed her last, and o'er her brow
The cold, damp dew of death was
spread;
Her voice is hushed in stillness now,
And she is numbered with the dead.
She was too lovely long to stay;
Too fair a flower for this bleak clime;
She bloomed and smiled, then passed
away
Beyond the vernal frosts of time.
A lovely flower with sweetest charms,
She but a while to us was given;
Then passed away through death's cold
arms.
Our darling Annie rests in heaven.
Now we will see our little one
Upon this earth no more;
Our great loss is but her gain,
For she has found the heavenly shore.
Parents, brothers and sisters too,
Who mourn her loss with love so true,
Be faithful now and you shall meet
Your darling one at Jesus' feet.
Farewell, Annie; farewell, darling;
We'll see thy little form no more;
Thou hast crossed the raging billow,
And found the golden shore.
MARY C.
[Fisher, Harriet
Lovitt]
Bedford Free Press
Thursday January 25,
1900 [p. 1]
Mrs. Fisher Dead
Mrs.
Fisher [Harriett Lovitt], mother
of Miss Clide Fisher, died
yesterday morning at 6 o'clock at her home in Conway. Funeral services will be
held this afternoon.
[Fisher, Harriet
Lovitt]
Bedford Free Press
Thursday February 1, 1900 p. 4
Obituary.
Harriett Lovitt was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, February 29th
1832. She was married to Laban Fisher January 9th, 1851 and died on January 9th, 1900, aged 67
years, 10 months and 25 days. She was the mother of 12 children, two of whom
are dead. She became a Christian when 1[?] years of age and has been a faithful
member of the Christian church ever since. All of the children excepting two
were present at the funeral services, which were held at the home in Conway. A
large consort of friends followed the remains to the Lexington cemetery. In
this hour of sorrow children and relatives of this good woman have the
heartfelt sympathy of a host of friends.
[Fisher, Laban Talon]
Bedford
Times-Republican
Thursday September 5,
1912 p. 8
conway
Laban
[Talon] Fisher was born in
Muskingum County, Ohio, February 1, 1827 and died at his home in Conway, August
30, 1912, aged 85 years. He married Harriett Lovitt January 9, 1851. To this union twelve children
were born: —Salina Baxter,
Pittsburg, Mo.; Jennie Kimball,
Vermillion, Kan.; Stanley Fisher,
Brunswick, Neb.; Beverly Fisher,
Conway; Elizabeth Holston,
Conway; Allie Sowash, Decatur,
Ill.; Clement Fisher, Alta
Vista, Kan.; Ella [Mary Ellen]
Rutledge, Sharpsburg; Charles
Fisher, Belle Plaine, Kan.; Clide
Fisher, Seattle, Washington. Anna and Iva Fisher died in infancy.
Funeral
services were held at the home, conducted by Rev. Hignett of Blue Grove church,
interment was in the Lexington cemetery.
[Ford, Battle]
Bedford Argus
Thursday June 19, 1879 p. 8
Battle
Ford, a colored man who has lived
about a mile north of Conway for a long time, and who is well known
thereabouts, died last Thursday night. The disease which carried him off was
asthma, or something much resembling it.
[Ford, Battle]
Iowa South-west
Saturday June 14, 1879 p. 2
Conway's Column.
Mr.
Battle Ford died at his residence
near town, of dropsy of the heart and chronic inflammation of the lungs,
Tuesday night. He was a good, industrious colored citizen.
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