BEDFORD TIMES-PRESS, Bedford, Iowa, March 22, 1934   

J.W. Wilcox Dies in Clarinda Monday

J.W. Wilcox, 69, former manager of the Hotel Garland in Bedford, died at his home in Clarinda, Monday, March 13, after an illness of two years. The funeral services were held at the Pruitt Funeral Home in Clarinda Friday afternoon, conducted by Rev W.H. Meredith. Burial was in the cemetery at Guss.

John Wesley Wilcox was born in Taylor county, May 19, 1865. He became a member of the Advent church in 1898, later transfering his membership to the Methodist Episcopal church.

He was married in 1886 to Ella Pershing and to them were born five children, John W. Wilcox of Omaha, Mrs Pearl Shum of Bedford, and Mrs Sylvia O'Dell of  Bowling Green, Ky. Two children, Harry Wilcox and Edith Wilcox preceded their father in death.

He resided in Clarinda since 1904 with the exception of five years spent in the hotel business in Villisca, Gravity, and Bedford. He was a charter member of the I.O.O.F. at Guss, becoming affiliated with that organization in 1896.

 

BEDFORD TIMES-PRESS, Bedford, Iowa, May 11, 1950

MRS SHUM'S MOTHER DIED AT CLARINDA

Mrs J.W. Wilcox, 79, of Clarinda, died at the Muncipal Hospital there early Friday morning. She had been ill several days and her daughters, Mrs Lorrence O'Dell of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Mrs P.H. Shum of Bedford, has been with her.

The funeral services were held in Clarinda Sunday afternoon and burial was in the Guss cemetery.

Margaret Ellwan Pershing was born at Burnside, Ill., on June 9, 1870. When a small child, her parents moved to Iowa, settling in the vicinity of Guss.

She was married to J. Wes Wilcox in 1886, and they moved to Clarinda in 1904. The two daughters and families, including five grandchildren and five great grandchildren, survive. A daughter, Edith, died in infancy, and two sons, Harry and John, both of whom were well-known businessmen, died several years ago. Mr Wilcox preceded her in death 16 years ago.

Mr and Mrs Wilcox, besides farming in Taylor county, were in business for many years. They conducted a bakery in Clarinda, operated hotels in Villisca, Gravity and Bedford, also were in charge of the Hawthorne Hotel in Clarinda, and retired after cafe experience there.

Mrs Wilcox was a member of the Methodist church and of the Order of Easter Star.