Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - juliajoh@usc.edu
 

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    March 31, 1904    [p. 1]

Death of W. R. Kemery

Word has been received in Bedford of the death of W. [illiam] R. [iley] Kemery, at Eugene, Oregon, that took place Wednesday of last week.  Mr. Kemery was born in Jackson Township in 1860, and his many friends will regret to learn of his death.

[KEMERY, WILLIAM RILEY]
Eugene Morning Register (Eugene, Oregon), Wednesday, March 23, 1904, p. 5
Leaden Missile Ends Fancied Woes  W. R. Kemery, a Fairmount Resident, in Insane Frenzy Destroys Himself.  In Stress of Derangement, the Unfortunate Man Blows His Brains Out—Recurrent Mania Takes the Form of Apprehension That Enemies Were Seeking His Life.
The usual tranquility of Fairmount was thrown into turmoil last evening at 7:30 o'clock by a tragedy enacted in an humble little cottage within the precincts.

W. R. Kemery, aged 44 years, a man of family, while in a fit of temporary insanity, entered an adjoining room, and seizing a loaded rifle, blew the top of his head off. His wife, and Mr. Phetteplace, a neighbor, who happened to be visiting the Kemerys at the time, rushed into the room but the unfortunate man was beyond all human aid.

A Register reporter, in response to a telephone message, found his way to the home. A knot of neighbors standing in awe-struck silence on the premises, made way  and we entered. Three children of the suicide sat huddled together in one chair, the picture of mute] wide-eyed helplessness. Several neighbor women surrounded the chair of the bereft wife and mother, and mingled their tears with hers in silent sympathy. It was a scene well calculated to stir the innermost feelings of the most cynical observer.

In the next room lay the suicide, in a pool of blood, with a group of neighbors discussing the tragedy in excited whispers, forming a semi-circle around the body.

The deceased during the evening had harbored the delusion that some one was seeking to do him bodily harm. He confided his fears to Mr. Phetteplace that he had a presentiment that an enemy was lurking about the premises. He appeared greatly excited and continued to pace up and down the room, mumbling to himself. Mr. Phetteplace endeavored to reassure him, but to no avail. Finally the demented man made a dash into the next room, and the tragedy immediately followed.

Deceased was in good circumstances and had resided in Fairmount about four years. He originally came from Nebraska, and was a blacksmith by profession. He was a member of the Fraternal Tribunes and held an insurance policy in the order to the amount of $500.

Coroner's Jury Verdict

Coroner King held an inquest over the remains. The verdict was to the effect that deceased came to his death by a gunshot wound self-inflicted. The following jury was empaneled; Chas. Piatt, J. S. Stiles, J. L. Marsh, H. A. Barr, Peter Nye, Emery LaDuke.

Mr. Kemery had suffered for some time with recurrent mania, which usually took the form of an expressed fear that enemies were seeking to kill him. The case is a sad one and Mrs. Kemery is receiving the condolences of many friends in her sad hour of extremity.

 

[KEMERY, WILLIAM RILEY]
Oregon Daily Journal (Portland, Oregon), Wednesday, March 23, 1904 p. 4
Thought Enemies Sought His life
(Special Dispatch to The Journal)
Eugene, Or., March 23.—William R. Kemery, a resident of Fairmount, a suburb of Eugene, committed suicide last night at 7:30 o'clock by shooting himself through the head with a rifle. Kemery had suffered for some time with a recurrent mania, which usually took the form of an expressed fear, that enemies were seeking to kill him. All day yesterday he was restless and said he had a presentiment that he was going to die that evening. His wife and friends tried in vain to quiet him, but the unfortunate man was helplessly deranged upon the matter. A number of neighbors were in the house when the tragedy occurred and had been trying to reassure him that he was all right and without danger, but he rushed into the bedroom and placed the muzzle of a rifle behind his right ear and fired, blowing the whole back of his head off. He was 44 years of age and a man of family, leaving a widow and three little children. He was a member of the Fraternal Tribunes, holding an insurance policy for $2,500.

 

[KEMERY, WILLIAM RILEY]
Eugene Morning Register (Eugene, Oregon), Thursday, March 24, 1904, p. 8
Funeral of Wm. Kemery
Funeral of the late Wm. Kemery of Fairmount will be held today in that city, with services in the church at 10 o'clock a. m., conducted by Rev. C. A. Wooley. Remains will be interred in I. O. O. F. cemetery.

 

[KEMERY, WILLIAM RILEY]
Eugene Morning Register (Eugene, Oregon), Saturday, March 26, 1904, p. 5
Wm. R. Kemery Did Suicide  Jury, Reconvened, Finds Verdict in Accordance with Previous Findings.

The coroner's jury drawn to inquire into the death of the late Wm. R. Kemery of Fairmount recently, were reconvened last evening to consider evidence tending to the belief that deceased did not suicide but that on the contrary his death was accidental. The evidence was carefully gone over again, including certain marks upon the bedstead, which, it was presumed, according to a new theory, was made by the hammer of the rifle accidentally coming into contact with the wood, thus causing, by accident, deceased's death. It was finally adduced that the marks in nowise corresponded with the course which the bullet took through the ceiling. The outcome of the investigation left the jurors more convinced than ever that deceased suicided, and on this presumption  the jurors once more returned a verdict in accordance with their previous findings.

[KEMERY, WILLIAM RILEY]
Bedford Times-Republican (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, March 31, 1904
W. R. Kemery Dies in Oregon
Henry Kemery of Bedford received word today of the death of his brother, W. [illiam] R.[iley] Kemery at Eugene, Oregon last Wednesday. Mr. Kemery died of rheumatism of the heart. He is a native of Taylor county, having been born in Jackson township in 1860. He has many relatives and friends here to grieve his loss. The news comes as a shock for no one thought that when he left here ten years ago in the prime of life and a strong man he would not be seen again.

 

 

 

The Times-Republican

Tuesday    April 24, 1923    [p.1]

Died in Louisiana

Word was received here Saturday to the effect that Louis Bailey [sic] [Bailie], aged about 35 years, and formerly a resident of this city had died in that state Saturday last and the remains are expected to arrive in the city today.  The deceased was a brother to Mrs. Roy Meikle [Madge Bailie] and Mrs. E. [rnest] G. Hamilton [Maud Bailie] of this place and well known to many of our citizens.  Mr. Bailey had been in poor health for some years past and had gone to the southern country in hopes of a change for the betterment, but it seemed of no avail and he passed away as above stated.  Funeral arrangements up to the hour of going to press have not as yet been announced.

~~~~~

The Times-Republican

Thursday    April 26, 1923    [p.1]

Death of Louis Bailey

Mr. Louis L. [eroy] Bailey [sic] [Bailie], son of Mr. W. [illiam] W. [allace] and Nancy [Hoover] Bailey [sic] [Bailie], was born in Jackson Township, Taylor County, Iowa on July 8th, 1880.  On December 16, 1900, he was married to Miss Maude C. Wier [sic] [Weir].  Two children were born to them, William and Eugene.

Mr. Bailey with his family lived all his life in Taylor County until 1916 when with his family he moved to Louisiana.  In 1908 he united with the Baptist Church at Forest Grove Mission and lived in the faith of his Lord and Master. Some years ago he united with the Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. Bailey has been in poor health for some [time] and April 20, 1923, he passed away at the hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana.  In the very prime of life, age 42 years, he was called to finish his life work.

Besides his wife and two sons, he leaves to mourn their loss three sisters, Mrs. Maude E. Hamilton of Bedford, Mrs. [Mary] Madge Meikle of Bedford, and Mrs. Blanch B. McCormack of Amarillo, Texas, a grandmother [Mary Ann Henkle Hoover], and a large number of relatives

The funeral services will be held in the Forest Grove Church Friday morning at 10:30 o�clock, conducted by the pastor, Rev. C.W. Fletcher.  Interment in Forest Grove cemetery.

 

The Times-Republican

Thursday    April 30, 1925    [p.12]

Ira Graff Thompson

Ira Graff Thompson, son of Jonathan and Nancy Sims Thompson, was born in Macoupin County, Illinois, February 27, 1851.

At the age of two years he came with his parents to Wapello County, Iowa.

In 1866 he moved to Schuyler County, Missouri, and married Iowa Alice Warder at Lancaster, Mo., in 1873.  They came to Taylor County in 1883, where they spent the rest of their life, except three years in Missouri.  In the early �90�s he united with the church at Berea, and later placed his membership at Bedford, Ia.  In 1923 they celebrated their Golden Wedding.  He leaves to mourn his loss, the widow and eight children, Mrs. Effie Taylor living at Lenox, and the boys, Elmer, Lester, Troy, Arthur, Walter, living near Bedford, also Mrs. Bertha Ratliff and Mrs. Flossie Newkirk, living near Bedford.  There are twenty-two grandchildren, also one sister, Mrs. Emma Woodson of Piedmont, S. Dak., and one brother, Guildford Thompson of Corydon, Iowa.  

Mr. Thompson has been a great sufferer for years, and especially the last year.

Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday at 2:30 p.m., conducted by Elder Edgar Price.

 

The Times-Republican

Monday    February 23, 1925    [p.3]

A message from California states that Neoma] Turner passed away at 5:20 Sunday morning at San Francisco.  Her sister, Miss Ella Hoover, has been at her bedside the past three weeks.

 

The Times-Republican

Monday    March 16, 1925    [p. 2]

The Life Sketch of a Pioneer

Neoma A. Hoover, daughter of Benjamin B. [alzar] and Mary A. [nn] [Henkle] Hoover, was born October 9, 1853, in Lee County, Iowa.  When she was an infant her parents moved to Taylor County, Iowa, where she received her education and grew to womanhood.  She was united in marriage to George Thomas Turner on January 1, 1877.  For 3 years they made their home in Jackson Township of that county, and in the spring of 1880 went to California.  After a short stay in Santa Barbara, they settled in Lake County, California, first on the Hildebrand ranch and later on the lakeshore of Clear Lake in Burns Valley where they were well known and respected residents for a number of years.  Mr. Turner passed to the Great Beyond on Feb. 11, 1916.  The following fall Mrs. Turner went to Lompoc to reside with her sister, Mrs. Zelda Streeter.  Needing a change of climate in 1924 she went to Modesto to make her home with her brother, Oswald.  Business affairs called Mrs. Turner back to Lake County where she was taken seriously ill.  On the advice of her physician she went to Lane Hospital, San Francisco, for a critical operation, after which she was taken to her brother�s home in Modesto, Calif.

She passed away Sunday morning, Feb. 22, 1925.  Mrs. Turner left a host of friends in Lake County where she resided for nearly forty years.

She was a leader in social and civic activities in the county, especially at Lower Lake and vicinity.  Mrs. Turner united with the Methodist church at Bedford, Ia., when a girl of 16 years.

There are left to mourn the loss of this dear sister, three sisters, Mrs. Ophie [Ophelia] Fiester of Washington, D.C., Miss Ella Hoover of Bedford, Ia., and Mrs. Zelda Streeter, of Lompoc, Calif., two brothers, Oswald Hoover of Modesto, Calif., and Don Hoover of Quincy, Ill.   She leaves also an aged aunt, Miss [Christine] Amelia Mix of Berkley, Calif., and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Mrs. Turner was laid to rest beside her husband in Lower Lake Cemetery on Feb. 25, 1925.  The funeral services held at the Methodist church of Lower Lake, conducted by Rev. A. Y. Skee, were attended by many old time friends, also a nephew of Mrs. Turner, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Davis of that town.  The out-of-town relatives present were Miss Ella Hoover of Bedford, Ia., and Mr. and Mrs. Oswald Hoover [Inez Bristow] of Modesto, Calif.

The Times-Republican

Monday    February 23, 1925    [p.3]

A message from California states that Neoma] Turner passed away at 5:20 Sunday morning at San Francisco.  Her sister, Miss Ella Hoover, has been at her bedside the past three weeks.

 

 

The Times-Republican

Thursday    March 12, 1925    [p.5]

Ronald Thompson, 18, Died Last Friday

Ronald Fred Thompson, son of Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Thompson [Bell Wells], was born July 3rd, 1906, and departed this life March 6th, 1925, at 1:30p.m., aged 18 years, 8 months and 3 days. He was a member of the Church of Christ at Eagle, having confessed his faith in Christ and was buried with him in baptism at the age of 13 years.  He leaves to mourn, his father and mother, three brothers, Paul, Claude and Doyle, three sisters, Aileen, Naomi, and Wilma, one sister having died in infancy.  He was held in high esteem among his many friends where he will be greatly missed among them.

Funeral services were conducted Sunday, March 8, at 2:30 p.m. at the Eagle church south of Bedford, Rev. Williams officiating.  Interment was in the New Hope cemetery eight miles south of Bedford.

 

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    November 27, 1924    [p. 1]

Edgar Hoover Dead

Edgar Hoover, highly respected farmer of southeast of town, died last Thursday evening from cancer of the stomach and the funeral services were held last Sunday.

~~

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    December 4, 1924  [p. 1}

Obituary—Edgar D. Hoover

Edgar D. [avid] Hoover was born in Jackson Township, Taylor County, Iowa, Dec. 26, 1863, and died at his home in that township November 20, 1924, aged 60 years, 10 months and 26 days.

His entire life with the exception of a very few years was spent in this same community in Taylor county.

He was united in marriage to Miss Martha Florence Davidson, March 31, 1887.  To them was born one child, Minnie J.

His sickness was not of long duration.

He was a man who took an active interest in the affairs of his community, interesting himself in those things which made for better conditions of life.  His neighbors and acquaintances have nothing but good to say of him.

His wife and daughter, three brothers, Joe [Josiah] of Bartley, Nebr., Edward B., a twin brother of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Clinton D. of Santa Cruz, Calif., and a sister Leonora of San Jose, Calif., of his immediate family survive and mourn his departure.

There are also Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Davidson of Wichita, Kans., Miss Susie Davidson of Great Bend, Nebr., W. T. Davidson of Clarinda, Iowa, who were present at the funeral who unite with their sister, Mrs. Hoover, in sharing her sorrow in the loss of her husband.

Funeral services were conducted from the home Sunday afternoon by Rev. G. T. Roberts, and burial was made at Bedford cemetery.

 

The Times-Republican

Thursday    October 11, 1923    [p.5]

Died This Morning

Mrs. B. [enjamin] B. [alsar] Hoover [Mary Ann Henkle] died at her home south of Bedford this morning, aged more than 90 years.  The obituary will be published in our next issue.

Arrangements for the funeral will not be made until they hear from the children in California.

 

The Times-Republican

October 18, 1923    p.3

Obituary

Mary Ann Henkle, wife of the late Benj [amin] B. [alsar] Hoover, passed away at her home in Jackson Township Thursday, Oct. 11, 1923, at 11:00am.  Her birthplace was near Danville, Vermillion County, Ill., April 2, 1833.  Of a family of 11, she was the youngest and the last to depart this life.

In 1836 her parents [Abraham and Mary Henkle] settled in Lee County, Ia.  In this vicinity she was united in marriage to Benj. [amin]  B. [alsar] Hoover, March 16, 1851.  They together were the early pioneers of Taylor County, Iowa, settling on a farm in Jackson Township where they lived from 1854 to 1898 when they retired from active farm life.  After visiting their children in their various homes, in the fall of 1904 [they] located in Bedford, Ia., where Mr. Hoover passed away on Feb. 6, 1906.

In the early days their home was a place of welcome to their friends and strangers alike, for they were friends to all passersby.  Mrs. Hoover in her home occupied a well-deserved throne, earned by her thoughtfulness and motherly love.  She was the mother of eleven children, five of whom preceded her to the great beyond.  She leaves to mourn her departure:  Mrs. Neoma A. Turner and Mrs. Zelda Streeter, Lompoc, Calif., (who were unable to be present during her illness and death).  Those present were Mrs. Ophie [Ophelia] Fiester, Washington, D.C., Ella Hoover, Bedford, Ia., Oswald Hoover, Modesto, Calif., Don Hoover, Quincy, Ill.  She also leaves 12 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Mrs. Hoover has always been a close Bible student; during her girlhood days she memorized the New Testament.  At the age of ten she united with the Methodist Church and was baptized in that faith.  She was a keen student of current events and took a lively interest in all public affairs up to and within a few weeks of her death.  Having lived almost a century she saw 6 generations.  Her span of life included that period in history when civilization reached the highest point in intellectual and material progress, and the religious and moral forces have made their greatest progress in curbing the evil tendencies of mankind.

Her cup was filled with life�s sorrows and joys alike.  She loved life and while for her it was rich in experience, she was reconciled to lay it down for the richer experiences of that new life upon which she has entered.

�No farther seek her merits to disclose,

Or draw her frailities from their Dead abode,

(There they alike in trembling hope repose)

The bosom of her Father, and her God.�

 

The Times-Republican

Tuesday & Thursday    July 3 & 5, 1923    [p.1]

Mrs. Thompson�s funeral To-Day

Services Are Held at the Home Conducted by Rev. Lumbar of the Presbyterian Church

Burial At Fairview

The funeral services of the late Mrs. J. [ames] M. [onroe] Thompson were conducted at 10:30 this morning at the home and the body was followed by many to her resting place, in Fairview Cemetery.  Mrs. Thompson was known in the community as one always ready to do the Christian�s part whenever the occasion presented itself.  She was quiet and modest in manner; as a neighbor she was kind and obliging; as a mother she was ever ready with a word of prayer when kindliness was shown her.  So, we are but voicing the sentiments of all who knew her, when we say that in her departure the community has lost a valuable neighbor, and her many friends and relatives are made to feel the will of Him who bids His people to be ready when death shall come.

Obituary

Martha M. Hedrick was born in Rush county, Indiana, Nov. 6, 1839 (?).  In early life the family emigrated to Wapello county, Iowa, where her girlhood was spent in a community of pioneers, of whom her father, John Wesley Hedrick, was one of the leading men in political and religious affairs.

At the close of the Civil War she was united in marriage to James Monroe Thompson and shortly thereafter they came further west to Leon, Iowa, where Mr. Thompson clerked in a general store for a short time; after which, in 1868, they came overland to Bedford, which has since been her home continuously.

Mrs. Thompson was the mother of ten children, eight of whom survive her: Mrs. J. H. Dickey [Grace] of St. Louis; Mrs. H. [elen] Guthrie of Los Angeles, Calif.; John N. Thompson of Portland, Ore.; Lawrence H., of Indianapolis, Ind.; and S. E., Ralph W., Guy, and Mrs. W.C. Richardson of Bedford.  All [of] these except Mrs. Guthrie and John N. Thompson were present for the funeral.

Mrs. Thompson, with her husband, joined the Presbyterian Church soon after their arrival here and almost to the close of her long life she was an active worker and leader in that organization.  She was remarkably energetic and active, and throughout her life she found time to take part in the social and religious activities of the community, as well as to rear her large family.  She was an active friend of the young people.

Mr. Thompson preceded her in death in 1906, since which time she has continued to live in the old home.  Her declining years were made comfortable and pleasant by the faithful and loving ministry of her daughter, Mrs. Richardson, who lived with her, and by the thoughtfulness of her other children living nearby.  A notable character, a faithful mother and counselor, a friend to many, has gone to the Father�s home and care.  May the blessings she brought to those about her be multiplied and passed to others; may the memory of her and her deeds be a blessing and inspiration to these children who remain.  The community, the world, is better for such a life.

 

The Times-Republican

Tuesday    May 29, 1923    [p.1]

Long Suffering Ended

On Saturday morning of last week word was solemnly passed about the city that Eugene Simpson had passed away, and while this was not entirely unexpected, it came as a real shock when the final summons were announced.

Mr. Simpson had been a patient sufferer for over a year, with an ailment that has baffled all medical skill.  His disease was termed anemia of the blood where the red blood turns to mere water with no strength.  On three different occasions, a transfusion of blood was resorted to, his three children giving of their blood in an effort to restore their father to health.  This seemed to rally him for a spell, only to sink again, and the end came peacefully Saturday morning about 5:30 o�clock, surrounded by his faithful wife and children.

Up until the time of his sudden collapse, over a year ago, Mr. Simpson was of a robust and healthful nature, industrious and hard working at all times.  After Mr. Simpson attained his manhood, he took an active interest in politics, and was a lifelong republican until Theodore Roosevelt launched the Progressive Party and Mr. Simpson was an ardent admirer of that famous statesman.

During his lifetime Mr. Simpson never forsook the farm on which he was born, about 3 miles southwest of Bedford, and was a veritable pioneer in the history of Taylor County.  Although a man of set ideas, Mr. Simpson had a host of warm friends, who will sincerely regret his taking off in the very prime of his life.

Funeral services were held Monday at 2:30 o�clock from the family home, conducted by Rev. M.A. Gable of the M.E. Church and interment made in Graceland cemetery.

Eugene Harlan Simpson was born April 27, 1857, and departed this life May 26, 1923.

He was born and reared on the farm where he died.  He united with the M.E. church at Gilead early in life and was a member except for the short time that he was away from the farm.

He was united in marriage to Alice May Salen, Oct. 16, 1885.  To this union five children were born: Ethel May, Florence Ruby, Alpha Irene, Eugene Paul, and Helen Leone, all of whom had the privilege of helping the mother care for him during his last illness.

Eight grandchildren, seven of whom are still living, one grandson having died in infancy, complete this family circle.

He is the first of his family to receive �The one clear call� from his Maker.  After almost two years of illness �one came softly through the unopened door with pierced hand and gently closed his eyes.  So eternal sleep has come to him with surcease from pain, with peace, and quiet and rest.�