[Jane
Newkirk]
Taylor County
Democrat
Thursday November 23, 1893 [p. 4]
Mrs. Rosa A.
John, of Rapid City,
S. D., came in on the early morning train Monday, to attend the funeral
of her mother, Mrs. G. [arrett] C. Newkirk,
which took place that day.
[Jane
Newkirk]
Taylor County
Democrat
Thursday November 23, 1893 [p. 4]
Died, at her home
4 miles south of Bedford, Saturday, Nov. 18, 1893, Mrs. Jane Newkirk, wife of G. [arrett] C. Newkirk,
aged 66 years and 3 months. Funeral
services were held at the family residence at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 20,
and were conducted by Elder Wm. Cobb. The remains were interred in the Titus [Graceland] cemetery. A large concourse of people gathered at the family residence
Monday to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased. The sympathies of the community go out
to the aged husband and they mourn with him on account of the great
affliction that has fallen on himself and the community; but they are
consoled with this thought that in the Father's house are many mansions,
where the aged and weary one will find rest from the pains and cares
of this earthly pilgrimage.
[Ralph Patton]
Times-Republican
Monday September 20, 1920 [p.4]
Another Body Arrives
Mr. & Mrs. Fred Patton, who live northwest of Bedford,
received a telegram from the government last Thursday, stating that
the body of their son [Ralph Patton], who lost his life over seas,
had arrived in New York and would be shipped to Bedford as soon as instructions
were received from them. Mrs.
Patton [Ellen Gilbert] sent a telegram at once asking
that the body be sent at once. This is another Taylor county boy who gave up his life in the
great world war. Announcement of the funeral will be made
as soon as word is received.
[Ralph Patton] [Hugh Isaac Parks]
Times-Republican
Monday October 4, 1920 [p.2]
Pay Last Tribute of Respect
to Soldier Boys
Large Crowd of People Attend
Funeral Services of Ralph Patton and Hugh Parks held in Court House Park Sunday Afternoon Many Soldiers Attend
One of the largest funerals ever
conducted in Bedford, was held in the courthouse park at 2 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, when the people gathered from all parts of the county to
pay their last respects to Hugh I. [saac] Parks and Ralph Patton,
who gave up their lives in France. Their bodies arrived in Bedford Saturday and were taken to their
homes in the country. Sunday
afternoon the two funeral cars arrived at the Courthouse park containing
their bodies. The American Legion had full charge of
the funeral, a line was formed extending from the street to the speakers
stand, first in line was the Ladies Auxiliary to the Legion, then followed
the G.A.R. boys, ranks were opened and the caskets were carried by the
Legion boys to the speakers stand which was beautifully decorated with
flowers and old Glory, both caskets were draped with the American flag. It was an ideal autumn day and the hearts
of the people drifted back to that other autumn day, September 25th,
1918 when the young men set sail for Europe to do their part in upholding
the rights and principles of American liberty. They were model soldiers in every respect
and as men stood in the highest regard.
These two boys left Bedford together,
trained together, went over seas together, both died within six days
of each other, both were buried in French soil for two years, both bodies
crossed the seas together, and both bodies were shipped from New York
to Bedford together, and the services in the Court house park yesterday
were held over the bodies of both. So they were together through life and stayed together in death,
and it is to be regretted that the bodies had to be separated here, Ralph Patton being laid to rest in the old
Titus Cemetery (now called Graceland) west of town, while the body of Hugh Parks were laid to rest in old Lexington cemetery, five miles northeast of
Bedford. Ralph, the only son of Fred H. and Ellen [Gilbert] Patton was born May 13th, 1894, at the old home near Gilead, here
he grew to manhood, uniting with the church under the Pastorate of Rev.
Freedline. The quiet earnestness, with which he performed
the every day duties, endeared him to all who were intimately associated
with him. He was called
for service on July 25th, 1918, and on the morning of the
26th, he with 36 companions left for Little Rock, Arkansas;
in the two months of training that followed, no word of complaint was
recorded in the messages he sent home.
On September 17th, 1918
they entrained for the East, the messages sent home while enroute were
filled with praise for the kindness of the people wherever they stopped. The last word to home folks was that they
had landed at Camp Merritt. Then
followed the long weeks and months of waiting but no word came, until
almost without any warning came the official news to Mr. & Mrs.
Fred Patton,
on Monday, November 25, 1918 announcing the death of their son Ralph,
which occurred in France on October 12th, 1918, of pneumonia.
Ralph was not a robust boy, but when his turn came to bear arms, he
made no effort to escape what he considered his duty. He went out not only willing but anxious to carry his share of
the burden in the great world war. His death, while not from Hun bullets, but from disease, was
just as noble and glorious as if in battle, for he was doing his duty
and died in the effort. All honor to the memory of young Ralph
Patton. No others can know the depths of anguish
reached by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Patton on that 25th day of
November 1918. Let us bow
our heads one moment today in sympathy for these sorrowing parents.
Following the special music by
the soldier male quartet, Rev. Lowe delivered a most touching address
in honor of Ralph Patton, using as the basis of his remarks
the well known quotation "Greater love hath no man, than to lay
down his life for his friends." Our soldier dead went forth in
the great army to do or die for the people of their native land and
offered their lives a sacrifice if need be in order that our country
and the countries of the world would be free from the rule which was
crushing the life out of a weaker nation. Mr. Patton died for his home and
friends and Rev. Lowe eulogized his life and memory for so doing. The pastor's remarks were such as to touch
the hearts of all and he urged upon the great body of young soldiers
present that in their battles of life that they might ever be found
fighting on the side of right as Ralph has gone forth to do. He also urged upon the people to help
these young soldiers who are among us to live such lives as would make
of them the very highest type of American manhood and citizenship, and
by the close attention given the speaker, it is thought that his splendid
remarks were feelingly considered by all those who were present. Rev. Lowe spoke with great feeling and
his remarks were very appropriate to the occasion.
Rev. Fletcher, pastor of the Bedford
Baptist church, spoke comforting words in behalf of Hugh Isaac Parks,
son of Mr. and Mrs. J. [onathan] D. [avis] Parks [Rachael Carmichael], who reside near Bedford, whose
remains were received at this
place at the same time as those of Mr. Patton. He paid high tribute to Mr. Parks, as a man, and spoke of the
exemplary life and habits of this young soldier who gave his life in
the service of his country. Rev.
Fletcher said that this was one of the highest duties a person could
perform for his native land, that of giving service when it was needed.
Hugh Isaac Parks was
born March 22nd, 1893, in Frontier County, Nebraska. When he was two years old his parents
moved to Taylor County, Iowa. Here he spent most of the rest of his life with the exception
of a few years in the west. His
education was received in the Taylor County schools, going a short time
to Bedford high school.
Later, he was employed on a farm
until he left Bedford for St. Louis Barracks, to join the overseas army,
going from there to Camp McArthur, Texas. Here he was in training until Sept. 16, 1918, when he was sent
to Camp Merritt, New York, and embarked for overseas Sept. 25th. He [seemed in good?] spirits when he left,
but contracted a severe cold before sailing and later the influenza
from which he did not recover. He passed away on board ship, Oct. 6, 1918, and was buried in
France, Oct. 7, 1918.
He was a young man of fine physique,
of pleasing personality, excellent habits, a representative, typical
of American manhood, ready and willing to answer the call of his country
when his service was needed.
He leaves to mourn his going out
a host of relatives and friends, and his parents, Mr. & Mrs.
J. [onathan] D. [avis] Parks [Rachael Carmichael] of Bedford; a sister Mrs.
Troy Thompson [Cora Parks]; a brother Earl Parks,
also of Bedford.
In his home life Hugh was a favorite
with the family on account of his winning ways and concern for the other
members of the family circle, and for the great respect he had for his
parents.
Hugh's life gave great promise
of a very useful future and his taking away, just in the prime of life,
made his death doubly hard for his parents and relatives, but it will
be a pleasing thought in their memory to think of him as having paid
the supreme sacrifice in service for the country which gave him birth.
A large concourse of friends followed
his remains to the Lexington cemetery and [he was] laid to rest in the
family lot.
A squad of soldiers accompanied
the remains and they were given a regular military burial of honor.
The singing was furnished by a
soldier male quartet and was very touching and appropriate to the occasion.
[Ralph Patton] [Hugh Isaac Parks] [Edward Ewing]
Bedford Free Press
October 1920
Military Honors Paid To Dead
Patton, Parks and Ewing Are Buried With Honors
Legion Has Charge of Funerals--First
Two Buried Sunday; Latter Tuesday----Services from Park----Very Large
Crowds Attend.
Funeral services for Parks and
Patton were held in the park Sunday afternoon under the auspices of
the American Legion assisted by the Woman's Auxiliary and the G.A.R. There was a full attendance of ex-soldiers
in full uniform, from which pallbearers and firing squads were selected.
The services were solemn and impressive,
the stand was draped with the national colors as were the two caskets,
with every other available space banked with flowers, the contribution
of friends and the different orders while the presence on the platform
of the firing squad with rifles and an armed guard at each casket gave
an impression never to be forgotten.
Impressive sermons were delivered
by Revs. Fletcher and Lowe, the former for Hugh I. [saac] Parks and the latter for Ralph Patton. The song service was by a quartette from
the Legion. After the brief
service the remains of Patton were taken to Graceland cemetery and those
of Parks to Lexington for burial, the firing squad and the soldiers
dividing for the purpose of attending both. At the cemeteries three volleys were fired, taps were blown in
strict accordance with military regulations, a brief prayer offered
by the attending minister, and the bodies of the boys who made the supreme
sacrifice for their country on a foreign soil, were consigned to their
last resting place, in the land they loved, and for which they gave
their lives. "God keep their Memory Green."
The funeral of Edward Ewing was held in the park Tuesday afternoon attended by the Legion in a body
with all the military accessories that marked the funerals on Sunday. A brief address was given by Rev. Lowe
after which interment was made in the Bedford cemetery, services at
the grave conducted by the Legion.
Ralph Patton
Ralph, the only son of Fred H. and Ellen [Gilbert] Patton, was born May 13, 1894, at the
old home near Gilead. Here
he grew to manhood, uniting with the church under the pastorate of Rev.
Freedline. The quiet earnestness with which he performed
his everyday duties endeared him to all with whom he was intimately
associated.
He was called for military service
July 25, 1918, and on the morning of the 26, with 36 companions, left
for Little Rock, Ark., where he was in training for two months during
which time no word of complaint was recorded in the messages sent to
the home folks.
September 17, his command was entrained
for the east, and messages sent home while enroute contained praise
for the kindness of the people wherever they stopped. The last message received from him was
that they had reached Camp Merritt. Then followed the weary weeks and months of waiting for word
that never came until the official notice of his death was received,
which was that he had passed away, October 19, at the Base hospital,
No. 101, St. Nazaire, France, from Lobar Pneumonia, six days after landing.
The most cherished message comes
from his companions which say, "He was a good comrade."
Those left to mourn his death are
the father, mother, and one sister, Mrs. Walter Thompson [Kate Patton].
Hugh Isaac Parks
Hugh Isaac Parks was born March 22, 1893, in Frontier County, Nebr., and at the age of
two years was brought by his parents to Taylor County where he spent
his life, with the exception of a few years in the west. His education was acquired in the public schools of the county,
with part of the time in the Bedford High School.
He spent the remainder of his time
on the farm until enlistment in the service of his county, August 7,
1918, going first to Jefferson barracks, St. Louis, thence to Camp McArthur,
Texas, where he was in training until September 16, 1918, going to Camp
Merritt, New York, embarking there for overseas service September 25.
From the tone of letters received
by the parents he seemed in the best of spirits. He contracted a cold before sailing, which
later developed into influenza, from which he died on board ship, October
6, and was buried in France, October 7, 1918.
Hugh was a young man of fine physique
and pleasing personality, excellent habits, a typical example of young
American manhood, ready and willing to answer the call of his country
when the hour came.
He leaves to mourn his untimely
death his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. [onathan] D. [avis] Parks [Rachael
Carmichael]
of Bedford, a brother Earl Parks, also of Bedford, a sister, Mrs.
Troy Thompson [Cora Ellen Parks] of Bedford, his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C. [onstant] J. [oseph] Carmichael of Pickering; also five nieces, Hazel, Gladys and Dorothy Thompson, Opal and Ruth Parks;
two brothers, Joseph and Charles, died in childhood.
Edward Ewing
Edward Ewing was born in St. Joe Mo., in 1898
and died at the Marine hospital in St. Louis, October 1, 1920.
Many years of this young man's
life was spent in Bedford where he attended school, going from here
to Des Moines, where he lived with his father until his enlistment in
the Marines, with which organization he was sent overseas, spending
eleven months in France, participating in a number of major engagements,
in one of which he was wounded, losing two fingers from one hand.
The relatives surviving are the
father, Samuel Ewing, of Des Moines and his grandmother, Mrs. Harriett Parker of Bedford.
Ewing was a colored boy.
Four funerals of our soldier dead
within two days in this vicinity, brings the cost of the war, in our
young manhood, more forcefully to our minds than the reading of newspaper
reports of the great conflict.
Battles and losses read of affect
us but little; the success or failure of our own armies is all that
remains in the mind. The
solemn events of the last few days cause us to think as never before.
When we come face to face with
the sorrow of bereaved parents in our own community and reflect upon
the fact that multiplied thousands of fathers and mothers in our land
are similarly bowed down with the grief that refuses to be comforted,
we realize in a measure the price we paid as a nation for the cause
of Democracy. We faintly appreciate the suffering of
that mother, when she thinks of her boy dying in a foreign land, among
strangers, lacking the greatest of all comforts in such an hour, the
whisper of mother love and the touch of the mother hand.
The sympathy of everyone goes out
to these stricken parents, but words fail when we try to express our
sympathy. On such occasions
there come to us the words of the great Lincoln, to the Massachusetts
mother who had lost five sons in the civil war:
"Dear Madam:----I have been
shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant
General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who died
gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must
be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief
of a loss so overwhelming. But
I cannot refrain from tendering to you the thanks of the Republic they
died to save. I pray that
Our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement and
leave only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn
pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the
altar of Freedom."
[PARKS, HUGH ISAAC]
Bedford Times-Republican (Bedford, Iowa), Monday, September 20, 1920
Word was received from Washington Saturday by Mrs. John Parks, living west of town, that the body of her son Hugh, who was buried overseas, had just been received at New York and would arrive in Bedford shortly, or as soon as instructions were received from her.
Hugh Isaac Parks]
Bedford Free Press
Wednesday November 6, 1918 [p. 1]
Two More Lives For Our Country
Hugh Parks of Bedford and Paul O'Biern of Gravity
Parks Dies of Influenza While Making Trip Across----Word
Received Saturday---O'Biern Killed In Action October 10.
Word has been received here that two more Taylor County boys have given
their "all" for their country and are now lying under the
soil of France. They are Hugh Parks of Bedford and Paul O'Biern of Gravity.
Hugh Parks was the
son of Mr. and Mrs. J. [onathan] D. [avis] Parks [Rachael Carmichael], formerly of Bedford but who now reside between
Sheridan and Hopkins. He
is also a brother of Mrs. Troy Thompson [Cora Parks]. He was employed at the E. [ugene] H. [arlan] Simpson farm for several years.
He left Taylor County August 7, being sent to Jefferson Barracks where
they were kept but a short time, then being sent to Camp McArthur, Texas. It is thought that he sailed for France about September 25.
Last Saturday, his parents received a message from the government stating
that their son had died at sea, October 6, of influenza. This came as a great shock to his parents
and community as his overseas card stating that he had arrived safely
had been received. The
overseas cards are mailed from New York and are sent out after the transport
has arrived safely in France. It really bears the message that the ship has arrived safely.
Following is the message received. Hoboken, N. J. Nov. 1, 1918
Mr. John D. Parks,
Sheridan, Mo.
Regret to advise the death of Private Hugh I. [saac] Parks at sea on October 6, 1918, from influenza. Owing to existing conditions was impossible
to bring remains back to U. S. and deceased was turned over to army
authorities overseas. It
is the present policy [words unclear] to bring remains back after the
war.
Judson, Brigadier-General
Arrangements for memorial services will be made at a later date.
[PATTON, RALPH] [REDENBAUGH, JAMES GLEN]
Bedford Free Press (Bedford, Iowa), Wednesday, November 27, 1918
Two More Pay the Supreme Sacrifice
Fred Patten and Glenn Radenbaugh Die in France
Word was received here the first of the week that two more Taylor county boys had paid the supreme sacrifice in France and that two had received wounds.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Patton, northwest of Bedford, received word Saturday their son, Ralph, had died of disease in France. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Patton and left Taylor county in the early summer with a group of county boys. He was a model young man and well known and respected in the community in which he resided. Complete details of his death are not available.
Mrs. Mary J. Radenbaugh [Redenbaugh] of Bedford received official notice Tuesday evening of the death of her son, Glen, on October 7. He died of bronchial pneumonia. On September 25 he sailed from Camp Merritt, N. J. for France and died shortly after his arrival. He was in training at Camp McArthur, Texas and was in the railroad wreck at Springfield, Mo. with other boys from this county.
[PATTON, RALPH]
Bedford Times-Republican (Bedford, Iowa), Monday, September 20, 1920
Another Body Arrives.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Patton, who live northwest of Bedford, received a telegram from the government last Thursday, stating that the body of their son, who lost his life overseas, had arrived in New York and would be shipped to Bedford as soon as instructions were received from them. Mrs. Patton sent a telegram at once asking that the body be sent at once. This is another Taylor county boy who gave up his life in the great world war. Announcement of the funeral will be made as soon as word is received.